Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design Information

As a strong sector association and a not for profit charitable organization, Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design (the Centre) has been serving the needs of the Island craft sector and the public for over 45 years. The Centre’s mandate is to promote excellence in craft and design, both professional and recreational, through education and training. The Centre’s role as an integral and leading force within the craft sector on Cape Breton Island is essentially educational, promotional and developmental. The Centre operates out of a 14,000 square foot space in Sydney Waterfront District, featuring exhibition space, a Gallery Shop and state of the art studios dedicated to excellence in Cape Breton craft. Our Gallery Shop, representing over 70 Cape Breton artisans, is a “must see” tourist destination with exhibition space that provides the opportunity to bring regional, national and international artisans, as well as exhibitions to our community. As a membership-based organization, the Centre has over 250 active members and includes 156 members who are engaged in full time or part time craft businesses. In recent years, the Centre has evolved into a well-respected enterprise development organization which assists artisans in the development of new products, the provision of professional development programs, the fostering of regional development and the coordination of trade shows and missions in various parts of the world. These activities happen through partnerships with government and other craft agencies. The significant opportunities available to the craft sector on Cape Breton Island require an industry champion who can support the development of the industry by providing a variety of services and programs designed to enhance the creative, commercial and financial performance of the sector. The Centre has been fulfilling this role for several years and continues to assess the development opportunities for the sector in order to achieve long-term success.