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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Announcing the Winner of the Inaugural John Fleming Award in Decorative Arts Writing 

The Canadian Society of Decorative Arts/Cercle canadien des arts décoratifs (CSDA/CCAD) is pleased to announce the winner of the first-ever John Fleming Award in Decorative Arts Writing:

Cheyenne Mapplebeck

“On behalf of the CSDA/CCAD Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate this year’s winner, Cheyenne Mapplebeck, for her outstanding submission.” says CSDA/CCAD Board Chair, Susan Golets. “Cheyenne’s work addresses some significant ideas on the importance of diversity and representation in art, and offers a unique perspective on how BIPOC artists continue to challenge colonial influence in gallery spaces through their contemporary practices.”

Created in 2022, the John Fleming Award honours the late Canadian scholar and writer, John Fleming, and his lasting contribution to decorative arts education. The monetary prize promotes and recognizes excellence in original magazine writing on decorative arts in Canada. Submissions are evaluated by a geographically-representative jury of decorative arts professionals, based on originality of the subject or approach, contribution to the field of decorative arts in Canada, and writing style.

Mapplebeck’s winning submission, Decolonizing Museum Spaces: Decorative Art as a Vessel for Disruption, will be featured in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue of Ornamentum, CSDA’s award-winning, decorative arts and design magazine.

“As an emerging writer and artist, it is such an honour to have my work validated through this award,” explains Mapplebeck. “The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery houses a significant collection of Ornamentum magazines. It feels surreal that my writing will now be part of these archives, alongside the many talented voices featured in the magazine over the years.”

Download a copy of the full news release.

To be notified of the Call for Submissions for the 2024 John Fleming Award: info@csda-ccad.org

Make a donation to this award.




John A. Fleming 

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About John A. Fleming

John A. Fleming, Professor Emeritus of the French, Museum Studies, and Comparative Literature departments at the University of Toronto, passed away in April 2022. He studied at McMaster (BA), University of Toronto (MA), and Harvard University (PhD). John’s academic research and publications have earned multiple awards, and his influence in the field of decorative arts in Canada is substantial. His books include Ukrainian Pioneer Furniture, with Michael Rowan and Halya Kluchko (1992); Les meubles peints du Canada français 1700-1840 (1994); Folk Furniture of Canada’s Doukhobors, Hutterites, Mennonites and Ukrainians, with Michael Rowan (2004); and Canadian Folk Art to 1950, with Michael Rowan and James A. Chambers (2012). John also played an important role in the Canadian Society of Decorative Arts: he was the editor and publisher of Ornamentum magazine from its inauguration in 2006 to 2018 and a CSDA director from 1990 until his retirement in 2019.

Award Information

The John Fleming Award honours his lasting contribution to Canadian decorative arts scholarship and writing.

This award recognizes an exceptional example of original magazine writing on decorative arts in Canada. Decorative arts are creative works, often of a practical or useful nature, produced by an artist, craftsman, or amateur, which have intrinsic aesthetic and/or historical value. These arts include architectural ornament; ceramics; glass; furniture and furnishings; graphics; metalwork and jewellery; textiles; theatre arts; and interior, industrial, and landscape design.

This $1,000 juried award is presented annually to the winner at the Canadian Society of Decorative Arts/Cercle canadien des arts décoratifs (CSDA/CCAD) Symposium and the article is published in Ornamentum magazine and website.





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.
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