Help support Ontario makers through a contribution to the OCC's Awards & Scholarships Program!

This year, in an exciting change, the OCC has moved the focus of our annual campaign from an ask to support our general programming to a focused appeal to invite you, our members, our supporters, friends and fans to contribute to a program that is very near to our heart - the Awards & Scholarships Program. 

The OCC’s Awards & Scholarships Program is celebrating 35 years! Over these three decades this program has recognized over 500 makers, curators and craft supporters. During that time, our list has grown until today the OCC is proud to boast a roster of 30 awards, scholarships and grants each tailored to celebrate a specific medium, a career milestone or involvement in the community. This program is fundamental to developing, supporting and nurturing Ontario’s craft makers and we’re ready to grow it, with your help.

Not convinced?  Then please read these impassioned appeals from two of our maker members and let them sway you...

To read glass artist Steve Tippin's letter, click here.	To read ceramic artist Keith Campbell's letter, click here.

There are several ways to make your contribution to the Awards & Scholarship Program:

1) Online securely through Canada Helps button below.  Be sure to choose "Annual Members' Campaign" in the Fund/Designation line to ensure your funds go to the correct place...

2) By mail or by fax - Download, print and complete the donation form to pay by cheque or credit card.  Please make all cheques payable to the Ontario Crafts Council and note "Annual Members' Campaign" in the memo line.
Mail to: Ontario Crafts Council, 990 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H1
Fax to (credit card payments only): 416-925-4223

Download the AMC 2011 Donation form here

How will the OCC use my contribution...?

Your contribution will allow the Awards & Scholarship Program to grow in several ways:
1) By enhancing the list of existing awards, some of which in the intervening years  since their creation have lost their monetary relevance, to more meaningful and contemporary amounts.

2) By allowing us to introduce new awards, scholarships or grants, specifically designed to fill the gaps in the current list’s concentrations.

3) By removing the burden of the Program’s administrative costs from the OCC’s general budget, freeing up more resources to be redirected to improve other, equally important member-support programs.

With this stronger and broader list of awards, grants and scholarships the OCC’s Awards and Scholarships Program will reach even further and you will have helped to support even more deserving artists and craft supporters, ensuring a stronger future for our craft community.

The following awards could benefit from support from your contributions to the Awards & Scholarships Program:

Awards held in trust and administered by the OCC
Don McKinley Award for Excellence in Wood: $150
Helen Frances Gregor Scholarship for a Fibre Artist: $500
Hey Frey Memorial Award: $100
Lily Yung Memorial Award: $1,000
Mary Diamond Butts Scholarship for Embroidery and Needlecraft: $300
Mary Robertson Textile Scholarship: $500

Awards sponsored internally by the OCC
OCC Craft Curator Award: $1,500
OCC Scholarship: $1,000
OCC Scholarships for Undergraduates: 2 at $500
OCC Studio Set Up Grant: $1,000

For our full list of awards, including those kindly sponsored by external organizations and individuals, please visit our Awards & Scholarships Page

The Call-for-entry for the 2012 Awards & Scholarship Program will be released in early January 2012; watch the Awards page and your inboxes for more info and for the announcement of several very exciting awards, new for this year!