Our Story
Artcraft offers high quality art and handmade craft created in the Southern Gulf Islands through our gallery and gift shop. Operating as a social enterprise, every handmade treasure sold by Artcraft directly supports the artist or maker, and helps to create a world where the arts are both celebrated and more accessible.
Our parent organization Salt Spring Arts has been operating the Artcraft Gallery + Shop as a seasonal event for more than 55 years from historic Mahon Hall. Our online shop, launched in 2022, now offers people all over the world access to a curated selection of our products year round.
All of our creations are made on a small chain of islands located on Canada's west coast. We work and create on the unceded territories of the Hul'qumi'num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.
History
Salt Spring Island has long been home to artists, artisans and performers of every stripe. As the the artistic community and its resources have evolved over time, so too has the understanding of the importance of the arts to the social, cultural and economic health of the island.
First serving as the Gulf Islands Arts Council (1968) and subsequently operating as the Salt Spring Community Arts Council, the organization adopted the shorter Salt Spring Arts (SSA) in 2021. Regardless of its name, the arts council has always been dedicated to promoting artists and their work, to enhancing the education of artists and others and to facilitating the needs of the arts community.
From its inception, the council provided local artists and craftspeople an opportunity to show and sell their works through an annual summer show. By 1978, Artcraft had grown from a small display to a distinguished program – the largest and longest-running show of its kind in British Columbia – featuring over 100 participants. Commission collected from sales provided grants to local guilds and performance groups, funded renovations and maintenance of Mahon Hall, and supported various cultural initiatives.
Artcraft continues to produce annual juried shows each summer from mid June to mid September, and hosts Artcraft Winter in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, in addition to our year-round online shop.
Our continuing mission is to connect people through meaningful handcrafts made by local artists. We strive toward our vision of a world where everyone seeks out and celebrates handcrafted goods in their own communities.
Join us
Are you an artist living and working on the Southern Gulf Islands? We are always looking for new Artcraft participants. Find more information and how to apply here.