New to the craft fair scene this year is the three week-long Crafted Vancouver festival, which is happening from May 4 to May 28 at various venues across the city. The wide variety of day and evening events include behind-the-scenes experiences, workshops, talks, tastings, guided tours, and sometimes exciting combinations thereof.

As one would expect of a craft fair, Crafted Vancouver will introduce us to ceramics, textiles, art, furniture, homewares and accessories, but this new festival will also be highlighting some less obvious ‘crafts’ like cocktails, automata and boat building, while also drawing unexpected and exciting connections.

While the majority of the participants are local, ‘Crafted’ is also bringing in more distant perspectives with visiting craftspeople from Quebec, Nova Scotia, the UK and the Republic of Korea. The commonality is the community of people who are committed to their craft – be it operatic, alcoholic, architectural, wearable, etc., – and the festival’s aim to foster the due appreciation and relationships with the public that’s needed to continue their legacies.

The festival will be kicking off with a free (RSVP here) Opening Launch Party on May 9th, at Performance Works. Other highlights include a tour of Westerly Handmade Shoes & Boots; a knife demonstration at AI + OM; a letterpress workshop with Mission’s Barbarian Press; a series on the creation of spirits and cocktails; and a 3-day ‘Korean Masters Ceramics Workshop’ that surely qualifies as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Many of the more intensive and unique workshops have very limited (6-16) spaces available, so if learning and participating in a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony or learning the art of quilting is an ambition of yours, then you should register ASAP!

Fri, May 4 – Mon, May 28 | Various times/locations | DETAILS