Supporting craft artists and advocating for craft as a unique cultural experience
Formerly the Ontario Crafts Council, Craft Ontario is a not-for-profit member driven organization, in service of professional craftspeople. We promote and celebrate professional craft through development opportunities, education, advocacy and by empowering diverse audiences. Craft Ontario's services and programs provide support for craft artists at all career levels, while raising awareness of, providing access to, and growing appreciation for their work.
Craft Ontario's primary objectives are:
- Member services and professional development programming, including workshops, conferences and the annual awards program.
- Exhibitions that contextualize and present contemporary craft practice to the public.
- The Craft Ontario Shop, a retail presentation space that provides opportunities for members to sell their work.
- The nationally-distributed Studio magazine, which fosters critical dialogue in the Canadian craft and design community.
Craft Ontario further contributes to the craft sector on both a national and international level through partnering with craft-related organizations to advocate for craft practice and produce special projects that include touring exhibitions, residencies and symposia.
Land Acknowledgement
We recognize that our work, and the work of our members, takes place on traditional Indigenous territories across Turtle Island. Craft Ontario is located on the traditional Indigenous territory of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. This territory is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty, an agreement between the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We are committed to these responsibilities, and know that we have ongoing work to do in advancing reconciliation and de-colonization. We are grateful for the resources we are using, and honour all the First Nation, Métis and Inuit people who have been living on the land since time immemorial.
Who We Are
Craft Ontario is a registered charitable organization under the legal name Ontario Crafts Council (118878511RR0001), founded in 1976 as a merger between the Canadian Guild of Crafts (1931) and the Ontario Craft Foundation (1966). Based in Toronto since its inception, Craft Ontario currently offers programs and services to 1200 members across Ontario, 1000 of which are professional craft artists, businesses, galleries, guilds and organizations.
Craft Ontario's work, and the work of our members, takes place on traditional Indigenous territories across Ontario. Craft Ontario's Gallery is located on the traditional Indigenous territory of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. Today, Tkaranto is still home to Indigenous people, and Craft Ontario is grateful to have the opportunity to meet and work on this territory, and is committed to advancing reconciliation and de-colonization.
