American Craft Council

American craft council events the american craft council produces a series of marketplace events, including our flagship event, american craft made baltimore. In 2024, nearly 11,000 tickets were purchased for the event that hosted over 375 artists selling their craft. Acc also produces american craft fest st.paul, which includes a smaller marketplace component consisting of approximately 60 early-career artists, as well as a wide variety of craft-based demonstrations, hands-on-activities, and locally crafted food and drink. Acc marketplaces are open to artists from across the country creating work that reflects the diversity of contemporary craft.forums: free, quarterly american craft forums that bring our community together to explore new ways of thinking about craft. Tying into the themes of each issue of american craft, these online discussions feature artists, writers, curators, community organizers, and morediverse voices working together to move the craft field forward.

Other programs and events:craft lab: the craft lab workshop series is a free, virtual, professional development program offered exclusively for acc members. Conversations are also recorded and made available to members to view at their convenience. From engaging conversations featuring movers and shakers in the craft industry to presentations on practical skills and methods, acc's craft lab workshop series offers educational programming for practicing artists at every career stage. Learn directly from experts on topics as wide-ranging as photography, financial tools, and marketing for artists.forums: free, quarterly american craft forums that bring our community together to explore new ways of thinking about craft. Tying into the themes of each issue of american craft, these online discussions feature artists, writers, curators, community organizers, and morediverse voices working together to move the craft field forward. Object stories: the american craft council invites artists and contributors found in "the scene" feature of american craft magazine and other community members to tell stories of objects that speak to them of their city. Presenters may bring handcrafted contemporary or historic objects, or other objects that showcase work specific to their city, represented in "the scene." the american craft council ask artists and writers to keep their "object stories" to approximately four minutes, utilizing the object itself or accompanying projected images. Emerging artists program: the american craft council's emerging artists cohort is a virtual three-month intensive program, followed by continued monthly support, that cultivates the next step for independent craft artists to advance their professional careers. In 2023 the program supported 10 innovative artists new to their careers who are expanding craft boundaries and challenging us to new perspectives. Through facilitated workshops, presentations, and conversations, participating artists gained a deeper understanding of the professional skills and opportunities that will help them diversify income streams and thrive in their chosen careers. Participants connected with established industry leaders from a variety of craft sectors including gallerists, curators, marketplace artists, exhibiting artists, social practice artists, designers, and more. After the three-month program was completed, all participating artists received a $10,000 accelerator grant to help propel them to the next level of their profession. When the 2024 intensive was complete, the 2024 cohort joined artists from the 2023 cohort for monthly check-in calls, 1:1 coaching, quarterly workshops, and pathway calls.the american craft made emerging artists program is a juried showcase of top emerging talent that provides a pathway for early-career artists into our established craft marketplaces. With lower-cost booths, extensive exhibitor support, and marketplace award opportunities, this program gives emerging artists an unparalleled opportunity to grow their clientele and careers. Artists may enroll in the program for up to three years. In 2024 the american craft made emerging artists program supported 100 artists. The emerging artists programs at acc are supported by foundational, individual donor, and corporate support.

Membership in the american craft council serves over 9,000 people annually with the quarterly magazine, american craft, advantageous travel benefits, discounts on select craft books, special invitations to acc virtual events and other discounts as they present themselves through ad hoc opportunities.

The acc library & archives' 20,000 print publications, 4,000 artist files, four archival collections, and robust digital collection provide a wealth of resources for craft historians, students, writers, curators, collectors and artists from across the globe. In 2024 the library website received 94,000 page views by close to 10,000 web visitors. Acc's other educational programs include digitally distributed, educational content about craft art and artists; a regular feature in american craft magazine highlighting craft informational resources and content from the archives; and american craft forum virtual events. Acc's library & archives and other educational programs are supported through the efforts of four dedicated volunteers and the generous contributions of individuals, foundations, and government funders.