City of Craft 2025
City of Craft is returning to The Theatre Centre December 5-7, 2025!
“City of Craft showcases exceptional artists, artisans, makers, and craftspeople whose work is beautiful, unusual, unexpected, and delightful. The lively atmosphere and artistic craftsmanship turn shopping into a celebration of contemporary craft culture.”
— Nehal El-Hadi, City of Craft 2025 Jury Member and The Theatre Centre Residency Artist
The Theatre Centre is bringing Toronto’s most beloved holiday market back December 5-7, 2025. Featuring over 60 local and Canadian makers from across Ontario and beyond, this year’s event will feature some familiar and new artisan and hobbyist craft artists across disciplines.
City of Craft was formerly stewarded by an incredible group of dedicated independent craft artists, and The Theatre Centre took on producing the market in 2024 to continue its mission: strengthening the relationship between the studio craft and DIY (Do-It-Yourself) community, as well as increasing the city’s access to – and appreciation for – contemporary craft.
The traditions of this family-friendly market remain: The first 100 people to enter the market on Saturday December 6 will receive a specially designed and screen-printed tote bag (printed by Kid Icarus and designed by Christopher Rouleau) filled with gifts from artists and friends of City of Craft.)
City of Craft 2025 lineup:
SMALL ZINE MARKET VENDORS
Hours are as follows:
- Friday, December 6th – 6-10pm
- Saturday, December 7th – 11-6pm
- Sunday, December 8th – 11-6pm
Formerly stewarded by an incredible group of dedicated independent craft artists, City of Craft was the ultimate winter artists’ & makers’ market of the city. This is Toronto’s largest not-for-profit, juried craft show each December featuring craft-based installations attracting approximately 4,000 attendees.
FAQ:
When and where is City of Craft?
City of Craft 2025 takes place December 5 – 7, 2025 at The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON.
Where can I apply?
Applications are exclusively online through Jotform.
If you require access support or if you are facing any barriers with applying, please contact [email protected].
What happens if I miss the deadline?
In fairness to all applicants, applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
How much does it cost to become a vendor?
Applying only costs $11.99 ($10 + $0.61 processing fee + HST). Selected vendors for the upstairs Craft Market will pay $250-300 + fees & HST depending on the size of your assigned spot. Applications for the Small Zine & Paper Market cost $6.16 ($5 + $0.61 processing fee + HST) and accepted vendors will pay $50 + fees & HST for their table.
How many vendors participate in City of Craft?
Out of 70+ participating organizations, workshop leaders, neighbourhood partners, and installation artists, City of Craft typically features 55-60 vendors each year.
Can my crafty business and I sponsor City of Craft?
Yes! Email us at [email protected] for more information about sponsorship.
Can I host a workshop?
Workshops for City of Craft 2025 will be funding dependent. If you have an interest in hosting a workshop, please email [email protected] with your workshop idea, as well as your space and material needs.
Can I do an installation at City of Craft?
We will be announcing a call for installation artists in the coming weeks! Keep an eye on The Theatre Centre’s newsletter and socials, as well as the City of Craft socials.
City of Craft is turning The Theatre Centre’s Incubator space into a zine and small multiples fair!
This year's illustrator
City of Craft tote bags and posters are screenprinted at Kid Icarus, and available for sale during the market!
Christopher Rouleau is an independent graphic designer and lettering artist in Toronto. Along with his full-time freelance work, he is also a public speaker, lettering instructor, and published author, and his work has been featured in Spacing Magazine, Uppercase Magazine & Flare Magazine. He attended the Alberta College of Art & Design, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. He has received a Communication Arts Award of Excellence in Typography. He is also an instructor for the online tutorial website, Domestika. christopherrouleau.com
Meet this year's jury!
Introducing the incredible craft & design engaged curators & artists for our City of Craft 2025 jury!
From l to r: Sage Paul, Nehal El-Hadi, Christopher Rouleau, Thea Haines
Nehal El-Hadi is a writer, researcher and editor based in Toronto. She is a contributing editor and former editor-in-chief of Studio, a biannual publication dedicated to contemporary Canadian craft. Nehal‘s writing about contemporary craft has been published in magazines, exhibition texts and artist catalogues. She was recently the invited artist-in-residence at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.
Sage Paul is an urban Denesuline woman in Toronto and a member of the English River First Nation—her ethos centres on family, sovereignty and resistance for balance. Sage is the Executive & Artistic Director and co-founder of Indigenous Fashion Arts. She is also an artist/designer who creates fashion for art, film, TV, theatre, and anywhere else she finds fashion. She has worked professionally as an administrator and designer in Indigenous arts for over 20 years, creating and leading several fashion arts projects and collaborations. Sage has been recognized by her community and the art and fashion industries as a leader and changemaker.
Christopher Rouleau is an independent graphic designer and lettering artist in Toronto. Along with his full-time freelance work, he is also a public speaker, lettering instructor, and published author, and his work has been featured in Spacing Magazine, Uppercase Magazine & Flare Magazine. He attended the Alberta College of Art & Design, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. He has received a Communication Arts Award of Excellence in Typography. He is also an instructor for the online tutorial website, Domestika. christopherrouleau.com
Thea Haines is a Professor and the Studio Head of Textiles in the Craft &
Design Program at Sheridan College. She is a graduate of McMaster University (2003, BA Hons Comparative Literature & Studio Art), and Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design (2006, Textiles), Chelsea College of Art & Design, London (2012, MA Textiles Design), and a former artist-in residence of the Craft Studios at Harbourfront Centre (2006-2009). She has been teaching in the Bachelor of Craft & Design program at Sheridan College since 2007.
Thea is a specialist in repeat pattern design, textile printing, and colour with a focus in sustainable practices and natural dyes. She has been a colour
consultant and dye techniques educator for designers and makers in craft,
fashion, theatre, and the film and television industry. Previous projects include community dye gardens, a regional survey of dye plants in Hamilton, and a study of colours produced from food waste. She was the co-curator, along with Rachel Machenry, of the exhibition Chromatic Geography, at Craft Ontario, in 2017.
Small Zine & Paper Market
Applications for the Small Zine & Paper Market will be assessed by Emily Jung (Director of Communications & Marketing, The Theatre Centre) and Stevey Hunter (Marketing Coordinator, The Theatre Centre).
Thank you!
Huge thanks to this year’s supporters: Noble Cashmere, Kid Icarus, and exclaim! Magazine. We would also like to thank The Drake Hotel and the West Queen West BIA for contributing to the giveaway bags!
December 5
to December 7, 2025
RSVP to receive email updates about City of Craft, plus, receive special perks in your inbox!
$5 entry fee (FREE for Kids under 12), paid at the door!
Friday: 6-10pm
Saturday*: 11am-6pm
Sunday**: 11am-6pm
**Sensory sensitive hour 11am-12pm. See “Accessibility” section for more information
*First 100 people admitted on Saturday December 6 will get a City of Craft tote bag filled with goodies from The Theatre Centre, City of Craft artists, and West Queen West Neighbours (including The Drake Hotel).
This year’s bag is designed by Toronto artist Christopher Rouleau and screen printed at Kid Icarus in Kensington Market!
The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West)
The Theatre Centre is wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp to enter the building. The second floor is accessible by a staff operated lift (32” x 60” in size), and there are wheelchair accessible washrooms on both levels.
During the first hour of the market on Sunday December 7 (11am-12pm), capacity will be
limited and music will be lowered to allow for a sensory-sensitive shopping experience.
Masking is encouraged and KN95 masks will be available. Individuals using mobility devices will
have priority entry.
The Theatre Centre Café/Bar will also be serving specialty holiday items baked by our Baker In Residence Akash Swar: which will include Cinnamon Buns and Gingerbread Cookies with our bar serving holiday drinks like Peppermint Hot Chocolate (spike it with peppermint schnapps!) and Hot Apple Cider (spike it with whisky or rum!) — making City of Craft a delicious shopping experience for visitors!
The Theatre Centre is a nationally recognized live-arts incubator and community hub. Our mission is to offer a home for creative, cultural and social interactions to invent the future.
We make work that spans disciplines and genres; work that pushes the boundaries of what is considered “art”. Our programming and our role as a community space are inextricably linked. Art is not made in a silo: it is connected to the world around it.