2026 Craft Award Recipients

Congratulations!

The annual Craft Awards recognize excellence and celebrate accomplished and dedicated practitioners in the field of craft and design. We are thrilled to announce the 2026 recipients, and hope you will join us in celebrating their achievements as we share their work with you in the upcoming months through the Craft Award Talks and the Craft Award Recipient Exhibition!

The exhibition will be on view from October 16 - November 14 at the Craft Ontario Gallery location, 401 Richmond St West, Suite 108, Toronto

Mark your Calendars for the 2026 Craft Award Recipient Exhibition and Ceremony! Taking place on Thursday, October 22nd - more info to come.

Special thanks to this year's jurors: Robert Akroyd, Marissa Y Alexander, Tracey-Mae Chambers, Tanya Lyons, Colleen McCarten, and Amir Sheikhvand.

The Craft Awards program is able to take place on an annual basis through the valued support of many generous donors and sponsors. Our thanks go to the following organizations, businesses and people:

The Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show, Chan Fraser Design, FUSION: the Ontario Clay and Glass Association, Gladstone House, JJStudio, Lacy West Supplies. Ltd., Leisa Rich and the Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op, The Pottery Supply House, Tucker's Pottery Supplies Ltd., as well as members and friends of the Copeland, Corcoran, Gregor, Mather, Mayhall, McPherson, Shanks, Walker and Yung families.

Image above by Jamila Monahan

Learn About This Year's Recipients

John and Barbara Mather Award for Lifetime Achievement: Marianne Heggtveit

Melinda Mayhall Memorial Award in Indigenous Craft: Maria-Margaretta Cabana Boucher

Dorothy Elaine McPherson Memorial Award in Mixed Media: Hannah Faas

William and Mary Corcoran Award for Excellence in Functional Craft: Jai Sallay-Carrington

Gladstone House Award: Michael Donohue

James H. McPherson Award in Woodworking: Thierry Andre

Helen Copeland Memorial Award in Ceramics: Sophie Manessiez

Pattie Walker Memorial Award in Architectural Glass: Jesse Olwen

Leisa Rich Fibre Arts Residency Award at the Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op: Michelle Peraza, Angela Guest, and Skye Louis

Rich Foundation Residency: Jamila Monahan

Shanks Memorial Award in Textiles: Par Nair

Helen Frances Gregor Award: April Martin

Lily Yung Memorial Award: Nithikul Nimkulrat

Cabbagetown Art  & Craft Show Craftsperson Award of Merit: Yanick Robichaud

FUSION Ontario Clay and Glass Design Award: Genie Kim

The Pottery Supply House Clay or Glass Supply Grant: Deborah Hatanaka

Tuckers Pottery Supplies Ltd. Clay Supply Grant: Katie Lemieux

Chan Fraser Design Jewellery Award: Yuxin Song

Lacy West Supplies: Gaia Gia