Beyond Borders: A Craft Marketing Conference Review March 28-30 Kootenay School of the Arts, Nelson, BC Crafispeople came from Quebee and throughout the West to the isolated town of Nelson. The Kootenay School of the Arts presented a Crafts Marketing confer- ence to help makers of fine crafts navi- gate the difficulties of selling work to the United States, using the web, choosing and approaching galleries, developing a pro- file and staying alive financially. The invited presenters were gallery own- ervemployees, a web-murketer, craft his- torians, a writer/publisher, a photographer, wholesale craft show organizers, several craftspeople and border and shipping ¢x- perts. Other guests represented the Canada Council, BC Arts Council, the Dept of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Trade Routes programme. Of the 242 delegates who attended, there were crafts gallery operators, volunteers, stu- dents and craftspeople. There was amaz- ing diversity! [ joined a Capilano College organized charter bus (thank you Mary-Lou Trinkhor) which, after some 10 hours on the road and lunch in Grand Forks, deliv- ered us to the Selkirk College cumpus by mid-afternoon. We were given a smart black bag containing the programme, the 1992 catalogue of crafts exhibited at the opening of the Canadian Craft Museum in Vancouver and the valuable Marketing Guide just published in November 2002 by the federal government. Get one; it's worthwhile (details opposite page)! There was still time to hear some of three presen tations that aftemoon: Exporting, Pricing and Industrial Processes, or sign up for a portfolio evaluation session. We then took the shuttle bus back downtown (a really steep hill) and I checked in to the Dancing Bear hostel (affordable, convenient, clean and fnendly). I think craftspeople took over that hostel and another across the street. The opening reception and keynote ad- dress were in the Capitol theatre. Alan Elder, Curatorof Canadian Crafts at CMC, Ottawa, spoke on the Projections and Per- ceptions of Canadian Craft. For the next two days we could hear pres- entations by craftspeople: Joanna May 2003 by Gillian McMillan Staniszkis, fibre, Donald Friedlich, jewel- ler, Irene Frolic, glass artist, Jonathan Simons, wood and Diarine Sullivan, clay, and panel discussions on developing a profile, studio production, Internet, Hype or Hope?, wholesale ws, retail shows, fund- ing, and Galleries — Love Them or Leave Them! We were served delicious bunches prepared by college catering students. On the Sunday afternoon, writer and crafts publisher Paula Gustafson discussed the importance of crafts publishing and was joined by Sandra Alfoldy, crafts historian at NSCAD, Marianne Hegetveit, Canada Council, and convenor and arts educator Helen Sebelius in a discussion on efforts to improve the current situation — that is that fine crafis barely appearin Canadian print. In a final session, guests reflected on the weekend's proceedings, and considered suggestions from the floor. These ranged from ‘get political’, to ‘let's plan the next conference now.” All available emails were circulated with the program imcreasing the probability that craftspeople will contact each other and advocate for changes, im- provements, and recognition of the eco- nomic importance of this sector to the economy by the federal and provincial governments. With a circulated survey of attendees it was clear that the event had made a significant contribution to Nel- son's tourism dollars. Many thanks to the Kootenay School of the Arts (whose downtown campus in an old stone building ss well worth a visit) for Presenting the conference, the organizers Lou Lynn and Helen Sebelius and the many student volunteers. Thanks also to the North-West Ceramic Foundation for awarding the Maureen Wright Scholarship to me so that | could attend this most worthwhile conference. Gillian McMillan and Joanna Boriase received Maureen Wright Sebelarships to attend the Conference, Hews ones eave ere tener eee ree ete ey | Thailand Italy Turkey Thalland Tuscany, italy May 14-31, 2004 17 days a. oe September 15 - October 6, 2003 21 days | Denys James and Erdogan Gulec Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadoccia Studio expenence and tours December 15, 2003 - January 3, 2004 18 Days Denys James, Louis Katz, and Suwanee Natewong Tour of folk potteries, temples, traditional arts and crafts Denys James, Giovanni Cimatti, and Pietro Maddalena Studio experience, terra sigillata workshop with Italian master Tours of San Gimignano, Florence, Siena Information and Registration | 4 Denys James 182 Welbury Drive Phone 250.537.4906 Salipring island, BC Email denysiidenysjames.com VK 2L8 Web www.denysjames.com Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter