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!
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WHAT'S NEXT Join Andrew Winger and Charlene Wang of Heritage Auctions for this lecture on modern collectibles! Registration and session information here.
WHAT'S NEW |
Fall 2026 Newsletter Read all about it Our Fall 2026 Newsletter is here and it is packed full of decorative arts intel! From exhibitions across the country, or the globe, we have you covered with captivating recommendations of what to watch, visit, and listen. Read about the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry back to England, an exhibition celebrating three artists' grandmothers' legacies, a decorative arts enthusiast's guide to Halloween, and more! Interest in reading previous issues of our newsletter? Read them here. Image: Zizipho Poswa (born 1979, Mthatha, South Africa; active Cape Town, South Africa), uNa’kaMzingisi (Mzingisi’s Mother), 2024. Glazed earthenware, 134.6 × 50.8 × 58.4 cm. Princeton University Art Museum © Zizipho Poswa. Image Courtesy: Southern Guild (2025-123). |  Annual Fundraising Auction Bid! Bid! Bid! Skip the holiday clutter and give the gift of creativity. Give a gift that inspires—or treat yourself to something truly unforgettable—by bidding on exclusive Canadian cultural experiences. Starting November 16th, you can bid on unique, arts-based experiences that directly support Canadian culture. Click here to browse the digital catalogue today, and get ready to place your bids! Your support matters. Image 1: Nickle Galleries, home to a variety of carpets and other precious textiles. Image Credit: Andy Nichols. Image 2: Cover image of Heights of Fashion: A History of the Elevated Shoe. Authored by Elizabeth Semmelhack Image 3: Xylem Decanters by Brad Copping |  Ornamentum Online Featured Article Poisonous pigments in period papers are spotlighted in Ornamentum's most recent feature, Timothy Greening's McKay's Choice? Investigating Arsenic in 19th-Century Canadian Wallpaper. Greening examines the decorative backdrops from the Victorian era and how artifacts are identified as hazardous. Read about how these pigments came to be manufactured for wallpaper and where else they may have been applied. Visit ornamentum.ca to access the feature article and the Spring/Summer 2026 issue, POISONS & INTOXICANTS. Image: Colin McArthur & Co. wallpaper roll (detail), c. 1906, Canada. Courtesy of Heritage New Zealand Puhere Taonga. |
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. |
On newsstands across Canada until May 2027 | COLLECTIONS, CONNECTIONS, AND DESIGN HISTORY The Fall/Winter 2026 issue of Ornamentum is guest-edited by Jan Hadlaw and Michael Windover, who proposed a focus on the inter-institutional ‘xDX project’ as a way of bringing attention to the role of collections in building networks of researchers for the creation of design history in Canada. This issue highlights the history of the Design Exchange’s collection, from its inception through its fragmentation and its reintegration as a linked data research tool. The issue also considers the range and role of design collections in Canada more broadly. Learn More Digital Issue Print Issue Subscription
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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. | 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! | 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! |