Craftmarket

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

Bring five friends.

Bring them to the latest, greatest, celebration of everything that is good about artisan crafts in BC.

Bring them with your other best friends for a day like no other.

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

See beauty beneath

Of course, you will see the sparkle of unique creations, the wonders wrought by individual talents.

But you will also see a vision for a true partnership between artisan and product champion. You will see how buying BC’s most beautiful gifts will bestow gifts on those who need our help most.

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

Touch the truth

Naturally, you will touch the smoothest silks, glass and ceramics, run your fingertips across the textures of leather, wool and lace.

But you will also touch the lives of vulnerable people you will never meet, through the philanthropy of informed consumption.

And you will reach out to connect with artisans whose life stories add infinite texture to every gift you buy.

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

Your tastebuds will blossom

As you would expect, endorphin-charged chocolate will mingle with the savoury surprise of the most cosmopolitan cuisine in America.

If variety is the essential spice, you must embrace life by tasting what others recommend. Our community-inspired Selection Forum has a duty to promote the authentic, original tastes in everything from painting to pottery, from needlework to folk music.

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ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

Listen to your heart of hearts

Your heart desires. To love and be loved. You will find gifts that speak to your innermost feelings for friends, family and the loves of your life.

And you can listen in comfort to your quietly spoken conscience. These are the most eco-friendly, community-focused, low impact products. Hear how the artisans make them – first-hand.

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

Sweet smell of shared success

You will still be able to sniff out a bargain. Yet you will breathe the fresh air of a new, more co-operative way of shopping.

Partnership pricing means that you, the artisan and our selected charities all share in the gifts of our community

In our prosperous society there is no need for exploitation to enjoy success.

As an artisan, you normally feel under pressure to choose to be in one show or another. They make you sign exclusivity deals that work for them but not for you. This feels more like a three-way partnership: consumer, organizer and me.

It feels less burdensome, mentally. And physically, there’s simply more consideration given to an artisan’s needs. More support, better merchandizing, more appropriate marketing … and you have a direct line to Judith and Doris.

“It feels so different”

This show really works hard at getting you behind the scenes. There’s a desire to expose you as a consumer to authentic experience– and that’s so valuable in a commoditized world.

There are shows within shows that you can enjoy for free: learning to throw a pot or seeing the early stages of a landscape painting take shape.

This is a real privilege. But you don’t feel awkward because you can see that the artisans want to do it -- they aren’t just here to sell some stuff from a stall. This is about who they really are.

“Closer to reality”

Mum and Grandma went to this big shop that wasn’t a shop and there was lots of people in it. But we didn’t have to do boring stuff. We were with Jenna and she showed us how to do cool animals with foldy paper. I think it is called Ornigammy.

I made a giraffe and a penguin. We also had great snacks.

I want to go again. I think Mom maybe has bought me a puppet.

“It was so cool.”

Paul took some convincing. We have been to one of these things before and he said it felt like being at a church fete. So, like, we’re not going to hold hands at a church fete!

The consistency of the experience is what struck me. You know, there were musicians there that I would pay to hear. The food was exquisite. And the kids were all in one spot -- which I like.

Everything is so well designed, sleek, modern not back-to-the-woods Canadiana which Paul hates. I bought all the gifts I wanted -- and some lovely ceramics for our apartment.

“I didn’t feel out of place at all.”

Lots of big organizations make claims about being green or helping charity. I think we see with Judith and Doris that they are walking the talk from Day One.

The charitable giving is built into the structure of the show, from artisan through to consumer -- it’s not an afterthought or a coat of moral paint.

When you go along and make a presentation about the charity, people listen. It’s not about PR -- they want to help you achieve your goals. So we want to help them achieve theirs.

“They obviously have higher values.”

Beyond beauty

FiveFriendsA celebration of artisanship in Vancouver

Don’t follow trends, trust your friends

ArtiologySpice of life

FiveFriendsA celebration of artisanship in Vancouver

Don’t follow trends, trust your friends

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

iDEA5A gathering of artisans.

Where every gift tells a unique story

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

iDEA5A gathering of artisans.

Where every Valentine tells your story

Find, create, give back

ARTIOLOGY Vancouver

iDEA5streetfoo

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A feast of artisan food.

Eat, drink and do good all at the same time