Happy New Year from the Alberta Craft Council!

I am excited to report that the Alberta Craft Council has had an exceptionally good 2011. Considering the state of the economy (recovering but not booming) and the on-going state of provincial arts funding in Alberta (still 16% lower than two years ago), our Craft Council has had several important recent successes.

The "Natural Flow" exhibition in the Craft Council's Feature Gallery just closed. This amazing exhibition was a partnership project with Esplanade Gallery in Medicine Hat and Calgary Glass Initiative. The exhibition attracted extra visitors in both Medicine Hat and Edmonton, as well as some exciting media coverage. The entire exhibition can be seen at www.natural-flow.ca

The "Prairie Excellence" exhibition just closed at the Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly Triangle Gallery) in Calgary. This exhibition, co-produced by the Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Craft Councils, has been presented in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, Calgary, and will continue to The Pas, Red Deer (for Series 2012) and Regina. Visit www.prairie-excellence.ca (Catalogues for Natural Flow and Prairie Excellence are still available from the ACC.)

Nineteen exhibitions for 2012 have been chosen and scheduled. The Craft Council received an unusually large number of exhibition proposals from members, students, member groups, and others, making the selection process both challenging and exciting. The first 2012 Feature Exhibition will be "Thinking Big", a group exhibition highlighting the craft artists and the work behind about 20 public art projects. The Discovery Gallery will re-open for 2012 with "Recipients", an exhibition of the 2011 Alberta Craft Awards recipients. Click here for a list of up-coming Craft Council exhibitions in Edmonton, and visit our EVENTS page often for more information on ACC exhibitions around the province.

"Twas the Night", the Craft Council's annual fundraising party and seasonal shopping spree on November 25, reached $11,600 in sales of members' work. This was the 14th annual, and second most successful, Twas event. Craft Council board members, staff and guests were pleased to host the new Minister of Culture and Community Services, Heather Klimchuk.

The Craft Council Shop achieved record sales in December. There were several special marketing projects such as a large order of official gifts for the Enbridge-sponsored tree lighting ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC. Most important, the Craft Council's invaluable staff topped $80,000 in sales of members' work in December. This is an all-time record for the month - so wonderful news all around!

In looking forward, our board, staff and volunteers are continuing to work toward more successes. Some of the most exciting examples are: planning for possible permanent Craft Council locations in both Edmonton and Calgary; three touring exhibitions over the next year; developing a new web site that will be much more visual and interactive; exploring a possible third project in South Korea; and planning the nation-wide Craft Year 2015 in conjunction with the Canadian Crafts Federation and other provincial craft councils. All of this, combined with the excellent work already done on a regular basis, should result in a very good 2012.

On behalf of my board colleagues, I want to congratulate all the Craft Council members who participate in these and other successes. I want to thank all the gallery visitors and customers who continue to support the Alberta Craft Council and the craft arts. And I especially want to thank the Craft Council's great staff for another successful season.

Tara Owen, Chair of the Board

Alberta Craft Council Board Members: Tara Owen, Chair, Calgary; Dawn Detarando, Vice-chair, Red Deer; Patricia Hartnagel, Treasurer, Edmonton; James Lavoie, Past-chair, Edmonton; Heather Forbes, Grande Prairie; Xanthe Isbister, Medicine Hat; Mary-Beth Laviolette, Canmore; Jennifer Salahub, Calgary; Kai Georg Scholefield, Calgary; Victor Steel, Fort McMurray; Meghan Wagg, Edmonton; and Kari Woo, Canmore

Alberta Craft Council Staff: Nancy St. Hilaire, Linda Frena, Joanne Hamel, Laura O'Connor, Annette Aslund, Jessica Telford, Elaine Emerson, Pat Aslund, Jeff Collins, and Tom McFall