A province-wide craft exchange is giving local artists who have been cooped up in their homes something to do together.

Katrina Craig, Program Director with Manitoba Craft Council or C2 Centre for Craft, says their members will be exchanging crafts next month.

"Our members can bring in any piece of craft, whether it be artwork or a functional piece," notes Craig who says submissions can range from canvas paintings to clay mugs. After the participants write their names on their creations, the artwork is then redistributed to other crafters involved in the exchange.

"I am sure we are going to see some really gorgeous mugs, and bowls, and things like that," presumes Craig, "but also weavings and tapestries and work in textiles, ceramics, metal, glass, and wood."

To Craig, this small artwork trade is intended to recall the days before COVID-19 when artisans could freely interact in person. She notes artists very often work together and, for some, being isolated means they are unable to share their creative ideas like they normally would. That, alongside the lack of in-person crafting fairs in recent months, means artists have not been as easily able to see what their peers are up to. With that in mind, she says there is already a sense of anticipation building around the gift exchange.

"Our crafters are really excited to do some blind trades as it is a nice way of connecting with folks from afar," she remarks. "We normally see a lot of our members at openings and things like that, and I think this is a way of remembering all these folks that you have these relationships with."

A benefit to exchanging crafts between crafters is that they share a heightened level of reverence for one another's work. Craig expects this event will be a fun way of encouraging and connecting the artistic community even as they remain physically apart.  

Any member hoping to take part in this activity is asked to drop off their work at the facility along Cumberland Avenue in Winnipeg between February 10 and February 13, no sign-up is necessary.