In 1938, the New Brunswick government created an outreach training program in an attempt to supplement workers' income beyond traditional seasonal work in fishing, farming and forestry.
With a break during World War II, the program re-emerged with a location at Hut #43 at Exhibition Court in Fredericton and in 1946 Dr. Ivan Crowell was hired from McGill University.
Dr. Crowell established a Handicraft Training Center at Exhibition Court in Fredericton (equipped to teach woodturning, weaving on floor and table looms, rug hooking, braiding and weaving, leather work, and cutting and polishing gemstones) and in 1950 a summer school at Fundy National Park called the New Brunswick School of Arts and Crafts.
[1] NBCCD views its strength as its ability to prepare students for success in the workplace by having adaptable and transferable design making and entrepreneurial skills at their disposal.
The partnership was designed to train disadvantaged Brazilian women, in northern and northeastern states of the country, in fashion, handicrafts, and other skills.
[6] The focus on entrepreneurship is aimed students wanting to develop commercial or artistic collections, work in the industry, or start a business.