World Craft Council North America Membership

The World Craft Council (WCC) was founded in 1964 and is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization recognized by UNESCO (The United Nations). Its general objective is to strengthen the status of crafts as a vital part of cultural and economic life, to promote a sense of fellowship among the craftspeople of the world and to offer them encouragement, help and advice. World Crafts Council is composed of five Regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

Any institution, organization or individual from countries of operational areas within North America and the Caribbean that are involved in promotion, development and encouragement of craft in their respective countries are eligible for membership in the WCC-North America.

Membership in the World Craft Council’s North American chapter comes with access to:

  • The WCC-North American Web Directory
       which includes:
    • Craft museums
    • Professional schools of craft
    • Professional craft centers
    • Specialty craft councils/guilds
    • Prominent and skilled craftspeople
    • Online tutuorial videos posted by artists
    • Listing of members with contact information and area of expertise
  • Members appear for duration of membership on website as artist of the World Craft Council
  • Subscription to either American Craft Council or Ontario Craft Council magazine (sponsor membership only)
  • Annual members meeting in conjunction with annual CODA meeting
  • Annual virtual exhibition exclusively showcasing members artwork
  • Every five years exhibition held at rotating member museums exclusively showcasing members artwork
  • Regularly updated databases, searchable online, providing information relating to member countries on: crafts exhibitions and events, workshops, and artists’ contact information.
  • Advice and services
  • Crafts connections worldwide and within individual countries, through the network of national entities
  • Representation of crafts in official political and administrative spheres

There are five categories of membership under the WCC North America:

  1. Individual Members  (Friends of WCC-North America)
  2. Associate Members
  3. Sponsor Members
  4. National Entity Members  (By appointment only)
  5. Honorary Members  (By appointment only)

 

Dual Membership

A Dual Membership is a membership to both the World Craft Council North America and World Craft Council Global. Dual Membership includes all the benefits and stipulations as a normal membership of the Individual, Sponsor, or Associate level. The additional benefit to becoming a dual member is that you belong to the World Craft Council on both a regional and global level while enjoying a 10% discount on your overall membership fees.



 

The Individual Members
(Friends of WCC-North America)

Membership of WCC-North America is also open to individual craftspeople throughout North America and the Caribbean who are willing to support the aims of the WCC-North America.

An Individual Member (a Friend of WCC-North America) is a person who is a practicing craftsperson, a worker in the area of crafts, and/or a supporter of crafts development, and who accepts to promote the principles and objectives of World Crafts Council North American Region. Individual Members do not have voting rights but may post their work and information on the site at no additional charge. The cost of becoming an Individual member of the WCC-North America is an annual fee of $50.

 

 

The Associate Members

Membership in the WCC-North America is also open to organizations in North America and the Caribbean in the form of Associate membership. These members represent crafts or some specific sector of crafts and have similar rights and privileges as National Entities with one major difference. Associate members may participate in General Assemblies but do not have the right to vote. The cost of becoming an Associate member is an annual fee of $100.

Cindy Bowden
President- WCC-North America
Phone: (404) 894-7840
Fax: (404) 894-4778
Email: Cindy.Bowden@ipst.gatech.edu

 

 

The Sponsor Membership

Membership of WCC-North America is now open to organizations, institutions, companies, or individuals who are willing to support the activities of WCC-North America by significant assistance or sponsorship in the amount of $1500 or more. The benefits of becoming a Sponsor member are a free subscription to American Craft Magazine, an annual holiday gift, and a listing on our recognition page. For more information please contact Cindy Bowden.

 

 

The National Entities

Full membership to the WCC-North America is available in the form of a National Entity member. This option is open to organizations in North America and the Caribbean which best represent the crafts within their respective countries. Each National Entity member sends a National Delegate (who has the right to vote) to the General Assembly. The primary aim of National Entity members is to encourage the crafts and adopt the principles of the Council.

Only two National Entity Members from any country may be a member of the Council with full voting privileges. National Entity members must be approved by the President of the WCC-North America, Cindy Bowden. The cost of becoming a National Entity member is an annual fee of $200.

Cindy Bowden
President- WCC-North America
Phone: (404) 894-7840
Fax: (404) 894-4778
Email: Cindy.Bowden@ipst.gatech.edu

 

 

The Honorary Member

An Honorary Member is recommended by a National Entity and admitted by vote of the General Assembly. Honorary Members do not pay fees and do not have voting rights.

Cindy Bowden
President- WCC-North America
Phone: (404) 894-7840
Fax: (404) 894-4778
Email: Cindy.Bowden@ipst.gatech.edu