Saskatchewan Craft Council

Saskatchewan Craft Council
Name	Saskatchewan Craft Council
Formation	1975
Headquarters	Regina, Saskatchewan
Region served	Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatchewan Craft Council is a provincial arts organization based in Regina, Saskatchewan that supports craft artists across the province through advocacy, exhibitions, professional development, and retail. Founded in the mid-1970s amid a surge in Canadian cultural institutions, the organization has engaged with networks across Canada and internationally to present studio craft in galleries, markets, and educational settings. Its activities intersect with museums, universities, galleries, festivals, and government arts agencies to sustain craft practice and markets.

History

The council emerged during a period marked by the growth of the Canada Council for the Arts, the National Arts Centre, and provincial arts bodies such as Saskatchewan Arts Board and Manitoba Arts Council, aligning with movements visible at institutions like the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Early milestones included partnerships with the Regina Public Library, collaboration with the University of Regina and the Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and involvement in events such as the Maritime Craft Council cooperative initiatives and cross-provincial exchanges with the Alberta Craft Council and the Ontario Craft Council. The council’s history reflects influences from national programs including the Canada Council Collection and networks like the Canadian Crafts Federation, while contemporaneous artists connected to venues like the Gardiner Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Royal Ontario Museum contributed to exhibiting and curatorial dialogues. Over time, the organization interacted with curators and educators from the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Fraser Art Gallery, and participated in festivals such as the Manitoba Fibre Festival and the Calgary Folk Music Festival when craft components were included.

Organization and Governance

Governance has involved volunteers, an elected board, and staff working with funders including the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Department of Canadian Heritage. The organizational model follows similar structures to the Canada Museums Association and regional bodies like the Prince Albert Historical Society, with policy frameworks influenced by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board and standards referenced by the Canadian Conservation Institute. The council liaised with municipal entities such as the City of Regina and provincial ministries parallel to relationships between the Winnipeg Arts Council and local governments. It established bylaws comparable to non-profits registered under Non-profit organizations in Canada statutes and engaged auditors and legal advisors familiar with the Charities Directorate and the Canada Revenue Agency regulations for registered charities. Board members and executive directors have networks linking them to the Saskatchewan Craft Week planning committees, the Festival of Trees fundraiser boards, and advisory panels associated with the Saskatchewan Centennial cultural initiatives.

Programs and Services

Programs include professional development workshops, mentorships, retail opportunities, and grant guidance similar to services offered by the Craft Ontario, the British Columbia Craft Council, and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Educational offerings have partnered with the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon Public Library, and the Regina Public Library for community-based learning, and with trade and craft fairs like the One of a Kind Show and the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair for market access. Services also encompass shipping and appraisal protocols aligned with standards from the Canadian Conservation Institute and exhibition loan practices paralleling the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Canadian Museum of History. The council’s juried programs echo selection processes used by the Royal Ontario Museum and national competitions such as those administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Exhibitions and Events

The council curated rotating exhibitions, pop-up shows, and juried markets in partnership with venues comparable to the MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Remai Modern, and community centres used by the Mendel Art Gallery and the Coriander Studio. It programmed events during city festivals like Regina Folk Festival and province-wide celebrations such as Saskatchewan Culture Days, and presented booths at national events like the Canadian Fine Craft Show and the Canadian Crafts Federation assemblies. Past exhibitions paralleled initiatives at the Design Exchange, the Bauhaus Archive, and museum exhibitions at the Gardiner Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum, while collaborative projects involved curators from the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art and the Contemporary Art Gallery (Vancouver). Educational talks and panels featured speakers with affiliations to the National Gallery of Canada, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Stratford Festival.

Membership and Community Outreach

Membership programs provided benefits similar to those offered by the Canadian Crafts Federation, the Ontario Craft Council, and the BC Arts Council, including professional development, retail consignment through gallery shops, and listing in artist directories used by the Canadian Crafts Federation and national registries. Outreach extended to Indigenous artists and communities engaging institutions such as the Manitou Archive, the First Nations University of Canada, and partnerships with urban Indigenous organizations like the Gabriel Dumont Institute. Community workshops occurred alongside arts education programs at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre and initiatives linked to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Canada) dialogues in the arts. The council collaborated with community organizations such as the Regina Transition House, Saskatoon Potters’ Guild, and the Prince Albert Arts Board to broaden participation.

Facilities and Collections

Facilities included gallery space, retail storefronts, and administrative offices comparable to infrastructure maintained by the Ottawa Art Gallery and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, with conservation practices informed by the Canadian Conservation Institute and accessioning workflows akin to those at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC and the Remai Modern. Collections management, when applicable, followed policies similar to the Canadian Heritage Information Network standards and worked with registrars and conservators who have collaborated with the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. Storage and exhibition equipment met professional recommendations from the Canadian Conservation Institute and procurement networks that serve institutions like the Art Gallery of Ontario and the MacKenzie Art Gallery.

Category:Arts organizations based in Saskatchewan Category:Organizations established in 1975 Category:Craft organizations