VISION / HISTORY

VISION

The Crafts Association of British Columbia (CABC) provides leadership in the craft community by building and promoting the development, viability and appreciation of Canadian Fine Craft.

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 we have been making craft more significant in the cultural life of British Columbians and Canadians. Through our public gallery and retail shop on Granville Island, Crafthouse, we exhibit and interpret contemporary objects in ceramic, glass, fiber, metal and wood that honor innovation in art, craft and design and celebrate materials and processes.

CABC is the only craft-focused arts service organization in British Columbia that fulfills an educational and public mandate with regional and national objectives. As a membership-based organization, CABC welcomes all those who are interested in or curious about craft. Many individuals and institutions belong to CABC - artists, teachers, scholars, collectors, gallery owners and professionals in related fields in British Columbia. This diversity is well represented in CABC's governance through its Board of Directors, which is elected annually by the members.

Some highlights and achievements include:

• the signature "Made by Hand" exhibitions showcasing the best in fine craft that started in 1976 until late 1990's.
• traveling exhibitions and market opportunities across Canada and USA.
• organized activities for Expo 86 and APEC summit.
• conferences and symposiums related to craft making, trends and issues.
• industry publications and catalogues.
• marketing reports & workbooks for exporting fine craft to the US and internationally.
• exhibitions, displays and demonstrations in public spaces and major festivals.
• 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 Whistler Olympics 2010.
• 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.

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HISTORY

CABC, formerly the Craftsmen's Association of British Columbia was created by interested members of the Visual Arts Committee of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver in recognition of the growing craft community in British Columbia.

CABC's first office, resource centre and exhibit space was located in the Dominion Building at the corner of Hastings and Cambie Street, in downtown Vancouver. In December 1979, CABC moved its operations to 1411 Cartwright Street in the newly developed Granville Island - a project of the federal government through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. CABC's gallery, the Cartwright Street Gallery was originally a separate society with its own Board of Directors, staff and programming. In 1985 CABC moved across the street to its current premises at 1386 Cartwright Street and opened Crafthouse, a gallery and shop for fine contemporary craft in May 1986. In 1990, the Cartwright Street Gallery became the Canadian Craft Museum located at Cathedral Place, Hornby Street, Vancouver from 1992 until it closed in 2002.

Some of British Columbia's leading craftspeople - individuals who have made an important contribution to craft and who have worked for many years in the discipline in which they are recognized - honourable, alumni and/or current members of CABC include:

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

Glass

• Joanne Andrighetti
• Gary Bolt
• Lou Lynn
• Markian Olynyk
• Naoko Takenouchi
• Morna Tudor

Metal

• Madeleine Chisholm
• Barbara Cohen
• Erin Dolman

Wood

• Neno Catania
• Ron David
• Jason Marlow
• Todd Stockner

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