Craft Council opens new digs in heart of downtown St. John's

A new space brings new expectations for the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is moving from one historic site to another.

For almost three decades, the Craft Council operated out of Devon House, a brick building next to Devon Row, and near the Sheraton Hotel. It moved recently for more space and easier access in another Duckworth Street property, west of Prescott Street.

The building at 275 DuckworthSt. was used for decades as the home of the Telegram newspaper.

"Oh,it's awesome. Very,very excited,"said Joan Kane, a craftspersonwho chairs the Craft Council's board, describing the move.

'It's new, it's fresh

Just in time for the summer's busy tourist season, the council opened up down the street in an accessible building that sees more people strolling by on a daily basis.

"It's new, it's fresh, and it's got loads of space," she said Saturday afternoon at the grand re-opening event.

"People have room to move around, and it's wheelchair accessible so anybody who wants to come in now is free to come in and they don't have stairs to climb."

Kane said the council wasshopping around last fall for a new building, as its original home needed some work and wasn't accessible so this new space was a perfect fit.

Rowena House, the Craft Council's executive director, sharedKane's excitement about the new digs.

"The space is amazing," she said. "It's so beautiful."

The council already has about 5,000 square feet completed to house its shop, gallery and administrative offices.

By January, the council hopes to have an additional 3,000 square feet renovated to house its clay studio.

We're hoping it's going to be able to double or triple our expectations for our shop.- Rowena House

House said they're looking forwardto more visitors comingthrough the doors, as some visitors had trouble locating the former building.

"It was just a little bit further off the beaten path."

"We're hoping it's going to be able to double or triple our expectations for our shop," said House.

"But also with the beautiful third space in our gallery we're going to be able to really concentrate on some emerging artists and getting them their first shows, which is really exciting for an emerging craftsperson."

The Craft Council sells goods made by 175 different producers in Newfoundland and Labrador. It also represents the interests of 254 members.

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