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Craft Awards
HONOURING CONTEMPORARY CRAFT PRACTICE
Craft Awards recognize accomplished and dedicated practitioners in the field of craft and design.
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 individuals:
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 Sarah Zanchetta
Conditions
- Craft Ontario has recently updated our Membership Structure, including Program eligibility. Please note that you no longer need a Maker Membership to apply for an exhibition at Craft Ontario. Non-members will need to pay a $10 Admin Fee to apply and, if your exhibition application is successful, you (and your co-applicant, if applicable) will be required to purchase a Maker Membership prior to your exhibition. If this fee is a financial barrier, or if you have any questions, please send an email to awards@craftontario.com
- Award eligibility is limited to those who are primarily living and/or working in Canada.
- Applications will only be accepted through the online form. Hard copy or email submissions will not be accepted.
Selection Criteria
Craft Ontario and the jury will consider the following when reviewing proposals:
- Technique: Work demonstrates a high level of quality and skill in the use of materials and processes.
- Originality and Creativity: Work demonstrates a unique style in terms of materials, intention and form that distinguishes it from other work in the field. The applicant explores new ideas, even if based on traditional ideas or forms, through a combination of imagination and inventiveness.
- Cohesion of Work: The applicant presents an overall harmonious body of work and focus, rather than disparate or unrelated pieces.
- Context and Intent: Work is significant within the provided context, and effectively communicates the artist's intent.
How to Apply
- Review the award descriptions and requirements carefully to decide which awards you will apply for You may apply for more than one award, but will only be considered for those where your work. experience or medium fit the eligibility requirements.
- Submissions in all craft media by Maker Members and prospective members at any stage of their career (emerging, mid-career or established), are welcome. Non-members, please review the program administration fees If you are not a member and are the recipient of an award, you will be required to purchase a Maker Membership prior to receiving the Award Funds.
- Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted
General Rules and FAQs
- Make sure that all document and image files can be processed by a PC computer. It is your responsibility to ensure that submitted files are not corrupt, illegible or improperly formatted. Please save your CV as a WORD (doc) document or PDF, and all image files as JPGs.
- Work submitted for review must have been created within the last four years
- A panel of six jurors will assess submissions according to the quality of the work shown, not by merit or need demonstrated in supporting documents such as study or studio plans.
- An applicant cannot receive the same award twice, If an award has been won by an applicant in a previous program year, they are then ineligible to apply for that award a second time
- Current Craft Ontario staff and board members are ineligible to apply to the Craft Awards program
Eligibility Requirements
Each award has its own parameters for submission. Please read the eligibility and application requirements carefully before choosing which awards to apply for. Some awards are media-specific, while others are delineated according to career level:
EMERGING: This category is for emerging makers and is reserved for those in the early years of their professional careers who may still be undertaking undergraduate or graduate studies and have a small exhibition record.
• You must have less than 8 years of professional practice to apply for awards in this category.
MID-CAREER: This category is for crafts professionals in mid-career and includes those past the early stages of their career who have produced a reasonable body of work and may have a fair degree of public exposure
• You must have 8 to I5 years of professional practice to apply to this category
ESTABLISHED: This category is for established craft professionals and includes those with an extensive body of work and with a history of national and international exhibitions and/or those who have achieved a wide degree of recognition
• You must have at least 15 years of professional practice in order to apply to this category
Application Documents
For the Biography/Artist Statement, CV, Images and Support Material documents, you will need to upload these files directly into application form. If you have any difficulties with this process, please contact us at awards@craftontario.com
Your complete application must include:
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BIOGRAPHY/ARTIST STATEMENT: Provide a 100 - 200 word description of your professional background and current practice
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CURRICULUM VITAE/RESUME: Provide a maximum three-page list of your education, exhibition record, awards, commissioned work, and experience teaching or leading workshops.
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10 PROFESSIONAL IMAGES OF YOUR WORK
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SUPPORT MATERIAL DOCUMENTS: Depending on the Award that you are applying for, you will need to submit additional information such as a Studio Development Plan, Study Plan, Achievements and Future Directions Statement, Description of Community Involvement, and/or a signed Code of Conduct Agreement, Read the Award requirements carefully, and include the necessary information in a word or pdf document. Please include a title for each section that indicates which award(s) the supporting text is intended for.
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IMPORTANT Award applications with incomplete support information will not be considered Make sure that all document and image files can be processed by a PC computer. It is your responsibility to ensure that submitted files are not corrupt, illegible or improperly formatted Please save your CV as a WORD (doc) document or PDF, and all image files as JPGs.
