Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design

   An exotic bird, its lush plumage artfully captured in vibrant watercolour, sits perched on the gallery wall, while tangerine koi and pristine Calla lilies flutter overhead on hand-painted silk scarves, telling stories of an artist’s travels.

On another wall, long strips of old cloth have been carefully coaxed through holes in a piece of burlap to tell a very different tale: one that depicts the spirit of life in the Maritimes through the traditional craft of rug hooking. In other nooks, there are rustic woollen hats and delicate silver jewellery. Quirky folk-art carvings, and handbags with glittering crystal clasps. Pottery tea sets, beach glass mosaics, cool pillows and warm quilts.

This place is a fine art and craft collector’s paradise, and a haven for tourists seeking unique souvenirs that reflect the beauty of one of Nova Scotia’s finest vacation destinations. But it is also a hub of community education, where youngsters can learn to quilt or weave the way their great-grandmothers may have, and great-grandmothers can try jewellery-making or stained glass. It is even a place for professional artisans looking to access specialized studio spaces, or to learn about bookkeeping, e-commerce, or marketing their work at home and abroad. Welcome to the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design.

Thirty-five years ago, the Centre began as a small Sydney-based organization aimed at protecting and preserving the island’s long history of heritage crafting. Today, a stunning state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility on Charlotte Street invites people from all over the island – and beyond – to come admire the work of some of Cape Breton’s most accomplished craftspeople, and to participate in a wide variety of workshops and classes.

“We work in heritage craft, but we have also moved into contemporary arts, or heritage crafts with a twist,” says executive director Carol Beaton, noting that the Centre also acts as industry association for all of Cape Breton.

“The passing on of these skills is critical, and we have to entice young people to become more acquainted with the craft sector, and the potential it might hold for them as a career.”

Because of the Centre’s work, more and more people with the inclination to craft and create are discovering that it is a viable business opportunity that offers them a chance to share their talent and passion with the world.

Twin sisters Michelle Newcombe and Monique Delisle attribute much of their business success to the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. The Sydney-based duo has been making a posh designer line of handcrafted Michique handbags for over five years, and they have relied on the Centre’s support and guidance to make their dreams a reality.

“They just helped us out with that ‘next step’, all the time,” Michelle says. “They got us connected with a trade show, they helped us with retail shows. Anything that was coming up, seminars and whatnot, they contacted us. They continually helped us grow and progress.”

Monique points out that the support and encouragement from the Centre also went beyond basic business, to confidence-building as well. “They told us how wonderful our product was, that we had to just push, and get it out there, and they’d help us. When you make something yourself, you’re a little timid about people seeing it, but they were so encouraging.”

With their products available in 25 high-end stores throughout the Maritimes, new markets on the horizon, and one of their handbags proudly sported by TV personality Kelly Rippa, Michique epitomizes the wonderful possibilities that the Centre for Craft and Design sees for the Cape Breton craft industry.

The Centre is also an important piece of infrastructure for Cape Breton tourism, as a retailer and promoter of unique local goods, and as a tourism destination itself.

“Tourists are in awe of the fact that they can see so much locally made craft in one spot,” says Beaton. “And for those that become intrigued by a particular artist, we give them a copy of our Cape Breton Artisan Trail Map, and send them out to their studio or workshop to meet them, or buy more of their work. When we introduce them to what is being produced here, they are blown away.”

There is an undeniable authenticity to these craftspeople, and the things they create. Something that resonates with others, and somehow reflects the past, present, and future of Nova Scotia. By weaving together Cape Breton’s long history of art and craft with innovative ideas for harnessing resources and building businesses, the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design is creating something truly beautiful: a new way for people all over the world to appreciate and treasure their own little piece of this remarkable spot.