News Release

For immediate release
January 26, 2004

Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design Receives Funding To Implement Craft Sector Development Strategy

Sydney, N.S. – Craftspeople in Cape Breton will soon be able to improve their income potential by participating in a number of new initiatives focusing on trade, marketing and professional development offered through the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design.

The Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design today received assistance totalling $480,000 from the Government of Canada for the Centre to implement various programs and activities to promote and strengthen the craft sector on Cape Breton Island over the next three years.

“Cape Bretoners are widely recognized for their creative talents, which sets the stage for a vibrant craft sector. To garner greater economic benefit from this activity we need to emphasize professional skills and marketing,” says the Honourable Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria. “Investing in skills development will act as a means of generating greater economic
self-sufficiency for this sector.”

According to a sector development strategy commissioned by the Centre in 2003, there are close to 800 craftspeople in Cape Breton, of which more than 400 sell their products commercially. The long-term aim of the strategy is to enrich the creative, commercial and financial performance of the craft sector in Cape Breton, thereby expanding the number of producers, the range and quality of products and markets and increasing their value.

“The funding announced today will enable the Centre to implement the recommendations of the strategy and provide leadership in a full range of activities designed to strengthen and grow the craft sector,” said
Carol Beaton, Executive Director of the Centre for Craft and Design.

The program will include professional development initiatives to strengthen the production and marketing skills of craftspeople to help with product sales. Various marketing initiatives will also be implemented with a focus on exporting Cape Breton crafts nationally and internationally.

These activities will include market research, export training, expanding
e-commerce sales channels and attendance at several key trade shows. As well, new marketing materials will be developed to promote local crafts as a complement to the Island’s tourism industry. This involves joint craft and tourism promotions and the development of unique Cape Breton products.”

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen Heckbert
Office of the Honourable Joe McGuire
Minister of ACOA and ECBC
Tel: (613) 948-7293

John Coady
Office of Mark Eyking, MP
Sydney-Victoria
Tel: (902) 567-6275

Carol Beaton
Executive Director, CB Centre for Craft and Design
Tel: (902) 539-7491

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3617