What is Artcraft?
Artcraft is a seasonal gallery and shop that runs every Summer and Winter from historic Mahon Hall on Salt Spring Island, showcasing the work of 100+ artists and crafts people.
A carefully curated selection of the very best local arts and crafts.
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 people.
Our 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 Today
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.
Mahon Hall Artists Renditions
2017 by Amy Melious
2018 by Josi Fletcher
2020 by Richard York
2021 by Rosie Schinners
2022 by Cathie Grindler
2023 by Dan Zak
2024 by Sal Wiltshire
Artcraft Manager
Elizabeth Nolan
Elizabeth joined Salt Spring Arts as Artcraft Manager in September 2021 after spending many years reporting on local arts and culture for the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper. Her passion for supporting the island arts community has also led to work with local institutions such as ArtSpring and Salt Spring Books.
Elizabeth completed a Master’s degree in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University in 2004, with a thesis focussing on women filmmakers in Vancouver and the “ceiling” placed on women artists and auteurs. In 2003 she moved with her husband to Salt Spring, where they have raised a son, two dogs and some chickens.
Email: artcraft@ssartscouncil.com
Find Us
Artcraft is held every Summer and Winter at historic Mahon Hall, in Ganges, Salt Spring Island.
Address:
114 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island, BC
Canada
Join Us
Are you an artist living and working on the Southern Gulf Islands? We are always looking for new Artcraft participants.
Join Artcraft to showcase your work, connect with the community, and be part of a celebrated local tradition.
Salt Spring Arts
Building and nurturing the creative capacity of our community through education, programming and advocacy.
Learn more about our parent organization, Salt Spring Arts, by visiting them here.