Canadian Society of Decorative Arts

Home
Canada
Toronto, ON
Canadian Society of Decorative Arts

A non-profit organization working to promote decorative arts and design in Canada The CSDA publishes Ornamentum twice a year.

The Canadian Society of Decorative Arts/Cercle Canadien des arts décoratifs was founded in 1980 with the generous support of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation. Governed by a president, vice-president, secretariat and council of members from each province, the CSDA/CCAD is a national non-profit organization whose revenues are generated through membership ad special development initiatives. The CSDA provides opportunities for members to communicate with other individuals and organizations involved in the decorative arts and related fields. Through local and national events, including behind-the-scene visits, customised tours and private receptions, members have opportunities to learn, see important work and to meet other decorative arts enthusiasts. It is the only magazine devoted to exploring the large spectrum of decorative arts in Canada, highlighting creative design and craftsmanship in both historical and contemporary work. Written for a broad readership, Ornamentum appeals to a diverse range of engaged readers, including curators, librarians, gallery owners, art consultants, educators, collectors and the general public. For more information on programming, visit: http://csda-ccad.org

10/14/2026

Our latest fall newsletter included a fascinating new Curator's Corner article by Sarah Bohuch, conservator in the University of Calgary's Libraries and Cultural Resources Department.

Read the article "The Ephemeral Truth of Things: Photo Albums from the Family of Canadian Women's Rights Activist Henrietta Muir Edwards" here: https://csda-ccad.org/Bohuch-Muir-Edwards-Albums

10/07/2026

REGISTRATION OPEN

CSDA Sundays: The Makers Series presents... Artist Tour at 8x7 with Karim Charlebois

🗓 Sunday October 25, 2026; 12:00PM - 2:00PM ET
📍32 Cawthra Ave, Toronto

8x7 presents a public carving performance by Montreal-based sculptor . The artist will be situated at a carving station with a work-in-progress piece, letting the wood shavings accumulate on the floor.
ca is an eight by seven meter place in Toronto dedicated to creative discourse in design. The gallery provides designers space for experimentation and risk-taking, critical aspects of the creative process that are rarely displayed.

Space is limited! Tickets start at $10 for CSDA/CCAD members.

10/01/2026

Introducing Alex Gates, Executive Director at the Toronto Railway Museum 🔍

Alex Canada’s Car Curator discusses his experiences working in Canadian automotive history, an acquisition that captures Canadian politics and aesthetics in the early 1960s, and his favourite benefits of being a member of the CSDA/CCAD.

📸 1-4: Image Courtesy: Alex Gates.
📸 5: 1963 Buick and 1908 McLaughlin-Buick at the 2026 Canadian International Auto Show. Image Courtesy: Alex Gates.

09/28/2026

Ornamentum.ca's newest artist-in-focus features Marilyn Armand, Le point visible who is a contemporary quilt artist and certified professional craftswoman based in Stanbridge East, Québec.

The artist discusses how she got into quilting, her creative process, and where she finds her inspiration.

Read the full interview and view more gorgeous quilts by the artist here: https://www.ornamentum.ca/post/marilyn-armand-le-point-visible

09/26/2026

Ornamentum is going to be at The Word On The Street Toronto this Sunday! We would love to see you there. You can find us at the Magazines Canada Chill Zone booth.

09/25/2026

Happening this weekend!

In-person tickets are sold out but there are still virtual passes available. 🎟

Those joining remotely can order Lisa Binkley's brand new book "Canadian Quilts and Their Makers: Design, Material, and Place in the Nineteenth Century" from University of Toronto Press.

Those who purchase a virtual pass will receive a Zoom link to the live event AND exclusive access to a recording of the presentation.

You can purchase a virtual ticket here: https://csda-ccad.org/Canadian-Quilts-and-Their-Makers

09/22/2026

Meet the Speaker 📢

Calling all Canadian quilt enthusiasts! You're invited to join the CSDA/CCAD's lecture Canadian Quilts and Their Makers coming up THIS SATURDAY

Our speaker, Lisa Binkley 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 co-director of Material Culture Collective.

Anyone can purchase a ticket. You do not have to be a member of the CSDA/CCAD to attend!

Drawing on her new book, Canadian Quilts and Their Makers: Design, Material and Place in the Nineteenth Century, Lisa Binkley explores a range of quilt styles—from homespun and patchwork to elegant appliqué and whole-cloth work—to reveal the social, cultural, and economic experiences of their nineteenth-century makers and users.

Lecture Details:
-Saturday September 26, 2026
-Arts and Letters Club, TO at 11am ET
-Virtual passes are also available*

*Those who purchase a virtual pass will receive a link for the live lecture along with access to a recording.

We know there are lots of fibre arts lovers out there and we would be so grateful if you would share the word ❤️

09/15/2026

The CSDA/CCAD’s upcoming lecture Canadian Quilts and Their Makers presented by Lisa Binkley is coming up on Saturday September 26th!

Drawing on her new book Canadian Quilts and Their Makers: Design, Material, and Place in the Nineteenth Century, Lisa Binkley explores a range of quilt styles—from homespun and patchwork to elegant appliqué and whole-cloth work—to reveal the social, cultural, and economic experiences of their nineteenth century makers and users.

Anyone can but a ticket! You do not have to be a member of the CSDA/CCAD. There are still in-person and virtual passes available. Those who purchase a virtual pass will receive a Zoom link for the live event and a recording of the lecture.

Details:
📍Arts & Letters Club, Toronto at 11am

🎟️ In-person - CSDA/CCAD Member = $20
🎟️ In-person - Non-member = $25
🎟️ Virtual Pass - CSDA/CCAD Member = $10
🎟️ Virtual Pass - Non-member = $15

Go to the link in the CSDA/CCAD’s profile to reserve your spot!

09/14/2026

The annual members' meeting is THIS WEEK

On Wednesday we will review our activity from the past year, share information related to organizational growth, and more.

The recipient of the 2026 John Fleming Award in Decorative Arts Writing will also be announced 📝

Registration is required. Members can sign up to receive the Zoom link here:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/csdaccad-2026-annual-members-meeting-tickets-1995106643678?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to seeing you there!

📸 Photo Credit: Esra Nur Kalay via Pexels.

Address

Toronto, ON

Telephone

+16472496280

Website

http://csda-ccad.org/, https://www.ornamentum.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Canadian Society of Decorative Arts posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Canadian Society of Decorative Arts:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Toronto?