Pender Islands Artisan Cooperative History

Interest in establishing a co-op on Pender Island began in late 2000, when a group of local artisans decided there was a need on the island for an organization that would give them a venue for showing and selling their work. Two great workshops and many meetings later, the Pender Islands Artisan Cooperative was formed and finally incorporated in October 2001.

The stated purpose of the co-op is "to bring artisans and the community together through providing marketing venues and support for its members' locally produced, quality products".

Member artisans own shares in the co-op and work as full partners to foster the goals and values of the co-op. Membership is open to all Pender residents who create local artisan products. The co-op has a jury committee that interviews interested artisans and juries their work to insure quality and local production.
The long-term goal of the co-op is to establish an artisan centre on the island. It would be a place where artists and artisans could come to meet, discuss ideas, work collaboratively and display their work. The plan is to have a location that offers a gallery, office space, library/resource area, workshop space and studio spaces to local artisans.

The co-op opened its 'Red Tree Gallery' at Hope Bay on July 15th, 2005. New goals for the future include expanding the gallery space to include more display space, storage, and studio/work space. .