Unity & Diversity: Canadian Pavilion at the Cheongju International Craft Biennale

The Canadian Crafts Federation announces 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, attracting over 1000 artists from more than 40 countries and over half a million visitors during the six-week event.

Unity & Diversity is a juried national exhibition of works by Canada's craft community. The exhibition theme seeks responses from craftspeople on how they see their work in the context of the Canadian craft scene. Entries will be directed to one of six regions based on the artist's place of residence: BC/YK, AB/SK/MB, ON, QC, Atlantic Canada (PEI/NS/NL/LB/NB), and Northern Canada (NWT/NU). Pieces selected in each region will be narrated by craft historian Dr. Sandra Alfoldy, who will provide critical discourse on the definition of Canadian craft. Each piece included in the exhibition may be selected for a second exhibition of Canadian and Korean work to be shown in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics. Several awards will be given at the Biennale, including a People's Choice and Narrator's Choice award.

The competition is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. A maximum of two entries per person is allowed. Works in all craft media are encouraged and must be of original design, executed within the last five years. Each entry must include a maximum of 6 professional quality digital images, a completed application form with contact information, resume, and artist statement (200 words maximum). Works accepted for exhibition will receive a 50% commission on all sold work, payable 45 days after the completion of the exhibition. All works must be available for the duration of both the national exhibition and the 2010 Canada/Korea exhibition in Vancouver, with a proposed duration of two years for potential traveling exhibitions across North America.