Crafts Association of British Columbia (CABC)

The Crafts Association of BC (CABC)is a non-profit, charitable arts service organization working with fine craft professionals and local, provincial & national arts organizations to promote the development of excellence in crafts. Since 1972, CABC has been making craft more significant in the cultural life of British Columbians and Canadians. Through CABC's public gallery and retail shop on Granville Island, Crafthouse, exhibits have showcased contemporary objects in ceramic, glass, fibre, metal and wood that honour innovation in art, craft and design. [www.cabc.net]

PROGRAMS

The CABC offers a number of programs and services designed to promote fine craft, educate the public on fine craft practises and trends, meet the needs of its membership, craftspeople/artisans, educators, students and the general public. The CABC is the only craft-focused arts service organization in BC that fulfills an educational and public mandate along with regional and national objectives. [www.cabc.net]

HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

- the signature "Made by Hand" exhibitions showcasing the best in fine craft that started in 1976 until late 1990s.

- partnership with the Canadian Crafts Federation to produce the largest ever craft festival throughout Canada; Craft Year 2007; and presenting a province wide exhibition (90 artists) and related programming with the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre and Vancouver Museum.

- collaborating with CCF and other provincial craft councils on an Asian trade mission to the Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2007 and preparing for Canada Pavilion in 2009, South Korea and Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

- branding and marketing BC's fine craft to an international audience and including craft as value added attractions to draw more audiences to Vancouver and BC. [www.cabc.net]

HISTORY

The CABC, formerly the Craftsmen's Association of British Columbia was created in recognition of a growing craft community in British Columbia by interested members of the Visual Arts Committee of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver. The first CABC office, resource centre and exhibit space was located in the Dominion Building at the corner of Hastings and Cambie Street, downtown Vancouver. The Association continues to foster the development of craftspeople and fine craft through a variety of programs at our present location, 1386 Cartwright Street on Granville Island. [www.cabc.net]

BC' S LEADING CRAFTSPEOPLE

Glass - Joanne Andrighetti, Gary Bolt, Lou Lynn, Markian Olynyk, Naoko Takenouchi, Morna Tudor

Wood - Neno Catania, Ron David, Jason Marlow, Todd Stockner

Ceramic - Walter Dexter, Robin Hopper, Sadashi Inuzuka, Charmian Johnson, Sam Kwan, Vincent Massey, Kinichi Shigeno, Debra Sloan

Fibre - Jane Kenyon, Lesley Richmond, Carol Sabiston, Ruth Scheuing, Joanna Staniszkis, Yvonne Wakabayashi

Metal - Madeleine Chisholm, Barbara Cohen, Erin Dolman [www.cabc.net [http://www.cabc.net Crafts Association of BC official website] ]

References