Celebrating Decorative Arts & Design!         Célébrons les arts décoratifs et du design !


Log in

     Our members enjoy access to past and upcoming presentations, receive our award-winning magazine, Ornamentum, and so much more.

Join our community of decorative arts and design lovers today! 

WHAT'S NEW


Marian Bradshaw Lecture

Save the date - Sept 26, 2026


Lisa Binkley will discuss Canadian Quilts and Their Makers: Design, Material, and Place in the Nineteenth Century. 

Lisa is an associate professor in the Department of History at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia; a member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars; and founding codirector of the Material Culture Collective. 

Event details and registration  information will be posted soon. This special, in-person presentation will be available online and is open to the general public. 

Image courtesy of University of Chicago Press


BOD 2026-2028 

Seeking expressions of interest


Ready to make a difference?  Join our board--where our ongoing mission is to support the work of artists, creators, and cultural professionals alike. 

Expressions of interest should be received no later than July 15, 2026Contact susan@csda-ccad.org to learn how you can help shape the future of this non-profit organization. 

CSDA/CCAD values diverse skills and fresh perspectives. 

Current director bios here

Image: Habitat Chair, Designed by Jerry Adamson (1937-2020). Image courtesy of Royal Ontario Museum. 



Ornamentum Online

Check out our newest Artist Profile


Need something whimsical and full of play? Consider learning about Gigi Wenger's practice in ceramics, the artist's favourite pieces, and the process that brings these strange creatures to life.

Read the full Artist Profile on Gigi Wenger here.

Check back to read interviews with Canadian artists, makers and designers at ornamentum.ca.

Image: Detail view of Gigi Wenger, Minis, 2023. Image credit: Guillaume D. Cyr.

ORNAMENTUM: CSDA/CCAD's AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE

Ornamentum is Canada’s preeminent publication dedicated to exploring and cultivating the aesthetics of the everyday. Written for a broad readership, this award-winning magazine highlights creative design and craftsmanship in both historical and contemporary work. 


Spring/Summer 2026
 

On newsstands across Canada

until November 2026

POISONS & INTOXICANTS

The Spring/Summer 2026 issue explores some of the materials, objects, approaches, perspectives, and impacts of toxins and intemperance on Canada's decorative arts. 

This issue opens with the 2025 John Fleming Award-winning article, "Threads of Resistance," by Alyssa Nolan, which examines quilt codes believed to have been used to communicate to those escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad. The history of poison in production and practice inform articles by Erika Range, Isolda Gavidia, and Timothy Greening, all of whom work with national collections. Readers will also learn about two material effects of sobriety and snuffing in articles by Ross Fox and Anthony Wu. Closing out this issue's theme is Rashana Youtzy's exhibition review of We Have The Cure, a remarkable body of work by Nigerian-Canadian artist Kosisochukwu Nnebe. 

Learn More  Digital Issue  Print Issue  Subscription




AT-A-GLANCE

ABOUT CSDA/CCAD

The Canadian Society of Decorative Arts/Cercle canadien des arts décoratifs is a national nonprofit that promotes decorative art and design in Canada, through guest lectures, special events, and publications. We're a diverse community, ranging from artists and makers, to experts and enthusiasts.

Learn more

BECOME A MEMBER

Take advantage of benefits including special member discounts, artist’s talks, opportunities for exposure through our newsletter and social media, and behind-the-scenes access to institutional and private collections that are not available to the general public. All are welcome!


Join today



NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Learn about upcoming exhibitions, hear from artists about their craft, and stay updated on all the latest decorative arts news from Canada and around the world!

Subscribe

* indicates required


The Canadian Society of Decorative Arts primarily operates out of Tkaronto/Toronto, Ontario. We recognize that the city is situated on the traditional territory and unceded lands of the Anishnaabe, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, and Mississaugas of the Credit.

The Canadian Society of Decorative Arts/ Cercle canadien des arts décoratifs was formed, with the generous support of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation, to provide a forum for all those interested in the decorative arts.
© 1981 - 2025 Canadian Society of Decorative Arts / Cercle canadien des arts décoratifs

(Reg. Charitable # 886343391RR0001) 

The Canadian Society of Decorative Arts uses cookies to analyze website traffic and to make our site work. To learn more about the use of cookies, please visit our Cookie Policy. For details on how to change your cookie settings, visit the Cookie Policy section Preferences.