Tara Owen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly called the Alberta College of Art and Design, now AUArts) in the jewellery and metals program. Since graduating from AUArts in 1996, Tara quickly distinguished herself as a skilled metal artist, valued arts administrator, and advocate for the cultural sector. She creates art jewellery, wearable art and small sculpture from her home-based studio in Calgary. Tara has been the Board Chair of the Alberta Craft Council (ACC) for the past 8 years, having served continuously on the board since 2000. Tara is an advocate for craft within the wider cultural community as well, representing Alberta artists and the Alberta Craft Council nationally on the board of the Canadian Crafts Federation / Fédération canadienne des métiers d’art (CCF). In October of 2019, Tara received the inaugural Rozsa Foundation award for Excellence in Board Leadership. This award recognizes Tara’s exceptional dedication to the arts and leadership within the nonprofit sector.
Jenna Stanton received a BFA in ceramics from Alberta College of Art + Design (now AUARTS) in 2003, and a Masters in Ceramic Design from ‘the potteries’ of Stoke on Trent, England, at Staffordshire University in 2012. Throughout her career she has worked in arts admin and is currently the Executive Director of the Alberta Craft Council. The ceramics she creates and the arts admin that she undertakes both consider function, place, and enriching daily lives through creativity and community. To explore, understand, and share best practices from the places and organizations that develop spaces and opportunities for artists to create, thrive, and connect to the broader community is her passion. Working in the arts creates an opportunity to put these models into practice, from Curating exhibitions, to lectures on Craft & Creative placemaking, and developing Cultural Hubs.
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