Unama’ki Craft Development – Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
Unama'ki Craft

Unama’ki Craft Development

Build Your Craft Business: Unama’ki Indigenous Artists
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, in partnership with Mawi’Art: Wabanaki Artist Collective and Craft Alliance, is launching a new business skills development program for Indigenous craft artists across Unama’ki, and we’re looking for makers who are serious about turning their craft into a thriving business. 

This is a hands-on, Mi’kmaq-led cohort designed by and for Indigenous craft artists entrepreneurs, grounded in cultural values and built to get real results: stronger brands, smarter pricing, wider markets, and a booth at the region’s biggest wholesale show. 

What’s Included 
Five participants will be selected for a six-session program covering the skills that turn a craft practice into a sustainable business. Attendance at all six sessions is mandatory: 

  • Introductory to Wholesaling 
  • Pricing your work 
  • Branding and Social Media Marketing 
  • Product Photography 
  • Intellectual property and copyright 
  • Market Opportunities and Export 

A Mi’kmaq artist mentor will be with you for all six sessions, guiding the cohort through a culturally appropriate learning experience alongside specialist facilitators for each topic. 

We Pay You to Participate 
We know your time is valuable, and we’re putting our money behind that belief: 

  • $150 per session x five sessions ($750 per person) — paid directly to you for your participation 
  • Business registration covered ($60 value per person)— we’ll help you register and pay your Registry of Joint Stocks registration fee  
  • Craft East Wholesale Show, Halifax, March 2027 (approximately $1,650 value)— select participants will have the opportunity to have a booth and travel to this major wholesale show, giving your business direct access to buyers 
  • Brand design ($2,500 value) — participants from the cohort will have the opportunity to have a brand designed at no cost 

Approximate total value per person: $4,960 

Who We’re Looking For 
We’re seeking Indigenous craft artists from across Unama’ki’s five First Nations communities who are ready to take their business to the next level, whether that means your first wholesale order, your first online store, or your first export sale. Come as you are in your craft practice, ready to build the business around it. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of Mi’kmaq artists, culture workers, and craft sector representatives. 

About the program and who can apply
Applications close October 21, 2026. Five Indigenous craft artists from across Unama’ki will be selected for a six-session, Mi’kmaw-led business program delivered by Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design with Mawi’Art: Wabanaki Artist Collective and Craft Alliance.

You can apply if you:

  • are an Indigenous craft artist living in, or connected to, one of Unama’ki’s five First Nations communities
  • have an established craft practice, making work you already sell or are ready to sell
  • can attend all six sessions, running:
    • Friday, November 6, 2026 (in person, at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, 322 Charlotte Street, Sydney)
    • Tuesday, November 24, 2026, in person, at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, 322 Charlotte Street, Sydney)
    • Tuesday, December 1, 2026, in person, at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, 322 Charlotte Street, Sydney)
    • Tuesday, January 12, 2027 — Online/virtually
    • Tuesday, February 9, 2027 – online/virtually

You do not need a registered business, a business plan, a website or professional photos to apply. The program will help with all of these.

Application questions
The application has five questions and a few photos. Short answers are fine, and there are no right or wrong answers.

  1. Your name, community, and the best way to reach you (phone, email or social media).
  2. Tell us about your craft. What do you make, and how long have you been making it?
  3. Are you selling your work now? If so, where and how (markets, online, from home, in shops)?
  4. What would you like your craft business to look like in two years?
  5. About how many pieces could you make in a typical month?
  6. Five to ten photos of your work. Phone photos are fine.

Please also confirm that you can attend all six sessions.

Click here for an application form!

Apply in whichever way is easiest for you. Every format is reviewed the same way.

  • In writing: email your answers and photos to Lori Burke at lori@capebretoncraft.com.
  • By phone: call 902 539 7491 ext. 113 and we will go through the questions with you.
  • By voice or video: record your answers on your phone and send the file by email or text.
  • In person: book a time to meet at the Centre, 322 Charlotte Street, Sydney.

How to Apply
Spots are limited to five (5) participants. To learn more or apply, contact: Lori Burke at lori@capebretoncraft.com 

                           

The Mi’kmaq Arts Development program encourages and empowers Mi’kmaq artists and residents to become active participants and leaders in the educational activities and programs of the craft community. This program promotes inclusivity in the craft sector for Mi’kmaq. As well this program will increase Mi’kmaq leadership and promote intercultural exchange through various craft media.

The Centre will play a role in facilitating access to cultural activities in Unama’ki-Cape Breton by creating space for cross cultural exchange and resource sharing.

Craft at the Centre

The Mi’kmaq Arts program offers free access to traditional and contemporary craft programming for Mi’kmaq. If you are interested in participating in or teaching a traditional Mi’kmaq craft technique, please contact info@capebretoncraft.com 

We will be providing courses and workshops in the five Mi’kmaq communities in Unama’ki, so please sign up to our mailing list below:

Traditional Craft Training Workshops

This program provides access to Mi’kmaq to participate in or lead traditional craft workshops for Mi’kmaw residents in order to foster cultural capacity and revitalization. The program also seeks to grow employment opportunities for Mi’kmaw craftspeople by increasing the number of Mi’kmaw craft instructors and providing multiple levels of training that will allow more artists to live sustainably from their craft. Craft training provides an opportunity for traditional teachers and methods that have been historically disenfranchised to assume a rightful place within the global economy.

If you are interested in participating in or teaching a traditional Mi’kmaq craft technique, please contact info@capebretoncraft.com

Exhibitions

This program aims to build capacity and provide artistic development training for Indigenous artists. The Mi’kmaq Arts Coordinator is seeking to work with communities, universities, and national arts organizations to plan Indigenous exhibitions to be held at the Centre and in the five Mi’kmaq communities in Unama’ki.

These exhibitions support early career building that will allow artists to become professionally established so that they may become nationally competitive when accessing funding, artistic and professional development opportunities available to artists from national and international level agencies. 

If you are interested in having an exhibition (solo or group), please contact info@capebretoncraft.com 

Stoqnamu’k Wksitqamuk

The “Green Earth” program provides a platform for knowledge to increase awareness of local materials for a more sustainable craft industry in Unama’ki.

Please contact info@capebretoncraft.com for more information.

FIRST NATION, INUIT, AND MÉTIS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAMS

The purpose of the artist-in-residence program is to offer First Nation, Inuit and Métis craftspeople the opportunity to have access to studio space. At Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design we recognize not everyone has access to studio space for their creative practice and with this program we hope to help artists reach their full potential. Participants can be formally trained or self-directed and must be able to work within a cooperative environment. Residencies can take place at the Centre, at Customs House or one of the Centre’s Parks Canada residencies.

Being an artist-in-residence offers many opportunities including business skills development workshops, marketing, and promotional opportunities, as well as instructing courses and workshops.

To learn more or to apply for indigenous artist in residence program contact: info@capebretoncraft.com 

Unama’ki Craft Business Development

The Mi’kmaq Craft Business Skills Program provides relevant business skills training aimed at emerging, existing and established Mi’kmaq craft producers. Mi’kmaq artists are supported through business, productivity, technical, sales and marketing training, advice and mentoring. The program implements initiatives to start, sustain and grow Unama’ki-Cape Breton craft businesses through the management of business skills development activities and funding programs.

Business Skills Training Workshops

The majority of this program is providing workshops and services based on the needs of Mi’kmaq craft producers. Workshops and seminars are provided to enhance the knowledge and skills of craft businesses in building business capacity in Unama’ki.

Examples of workshops provided by our program will be on such topics as, but not limited to:

  •  Pricing and merchandising. 
  • Booth display.
  • Wholesale trade.
  • Export readiness education. 
  • Ecommerce.  
  • Digital marketing and promotion. 
  • Developing business and marketing plans. 
  • Production and productivity management; and
  • Branding, web design, etc.

For more information, please contact info@capebretoncraft.com or at 902 574 8636.

Business Consultancy

This program supports Mi’kmaq craft producers to engage consultants to provide advice in areas such as: market assessments and plans; lean manufacturing; research and presentation of best practices; experiential product development, etc.

Mentorship

The program provides alternative pathways to education within Mi’kmaq cultural paradigms, that give artists the option to stay in their communities. A key component for craft training development will be the recruitment of Mi’kmaq artists for a Mi’kmaq mentorship program. Mi’kmaq artists will be paired with mentors for either business skills development or craft training to address gaps which are prevalent in rural communities

Promotion of Mi’kmaq Craft

This program aims to increase awareness, as well as increase sales of Mi’kmaq craft products through marketing and promotion. This program provides funding to create new rich content including photography and video to use for online promotion including social media platforms, website, and online advertising.

For more information, please contact info@capebretoncraft.com or at 902 574 8636.