Thursday, December 04, 2008

Cheongju International Craft Biennale

Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 5:00 pm EST (RECEIVE)


Cheongju International Craft Biennale:
Unity & Diversity

A Juried National Exhibition of
Works by Canada’s Craft Community
Canadian Pavilion


The Canadian Crafts Federation/Fédération canadienne des métiers d’art is proud to announce that Canada has been named the official guest country of the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Cheongju, South Korea.

Celebrating its 6th anniversary in 2009, the Cheongju International Craft Biennale is the largest and most outstanding fine craft-based biennale in the world. Over 1000 artists from more than 40 countries participate each year, with over half a million visitors in attendance during the month-long event. With a focus on high-quality functional and sculptural craft, the Biennale attracts attention from collectors, curators, academics, craftspeople and, of course, the public. It is a terrific opportunity to showcase the talent of Canadian craftspeople to the world.

Each piece included in the Unity & Diversity exhibition will be entered into a second review, and may be selected to exhibit as part of a second project - an exhibition of Canadian and Korean work to be shown in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics.


National Call: Unity and Diversity

Intentionally broad in scope, the exhibition theme “Unity and Diversity” seeks responses from craftspeople on how they see their work in the context of the Canadian craft scene. Does Canadian craft have a unified identity, or do our vast physical and cultural geographies make the question of identity much more complicated and diverse?

Exhibition Structure

The CCF/FCMA has partnered with provincial and territorial craft councils to form six regions. Each region will feature local expertise in the jurying proccess. Entries will be directed to the specified region depending on the artist’s place of residence.

Conditions of Entry

Please note that we will be using an on-line application process for Unity & Diversity which will be accessible two months prior to the call deadline.

The following information outlines the rules of entry and provides guidelines about the future application process:


  • A maximum of 2 entries per person or collaborative partnership.

  • The competition is open to all Canadian craft professionals.

  • Works in all craft media is encouraged.

  • Each entry must be of original design. The jurors will assess works based on excellence of design, technique, originality, and craftsmanship.

  • All works must be available for the duration of both the Cheongju International Craft Biennale National Exhibition and the 2010 Canada/Korean Exhibition (Vancouver)—up to a maximum of 2 years. Please clearly indicate if works are intended for sale.

  • Each entry must have been executed within the 2 years preceding the date of submission.

  • Set of multiples (such as a sculptural group or tea service) will be considered as one object.

  • Copyright: submission of entry grants the CCF, and partners, with the permission to use accepted works for all promotional purposes.

  • Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted.


Entry Fees

A maximum of two entries per person is allowed. Each entry can include two objects.
Fees are non-refundable.

$50 / per entry - Applies to applicants who hold an active membership with a provincial craft council.
$85 / per entry - Applies to applicants without an active membership with a provincial craft council.

2010 Canada/Korea Exhibition (Vancouver)

A portion of the National Exhibition will be chosen to return to Vancouver following the Biennale as part of a Canada/Korea cultural exchange. This work will be exhibited at the Vancouver Museum January-April 2010 and will be displayed throughout the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This Canada/Korea Exhibition may then travel to other Canadian venues, to be determined.

Visit the website for complete details: canadiancraftsfederation.ca

Download the Call for Entry.