Nationwide educational initiative launched by Craft in America

Woodworking Network
6/1/26
By Larry Adams

LOS ANGELES — Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide initiative presented by Craft in America and timed to the country’s Semiquincentennial, announced its educational programming. 

Through free K–12 education guides designed to meet National Visual Arts Standards—part of the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS)—and ten university-level artist residencies developed in partnership with artists, educators, and institutions across the United States, Handwork 2026 aims to inspire the next generation of American craft. Handwork 2026’s education initiatives are possible thanks to the generous support of the Windgate Foundation.

Craft in America Co-Executive Directors Ann Ruhr Pifer and Robyn Hollingshead said, “Through Handwork 2026, we’re creating opportunities for students of all ages to engage directly with artists and traditions that are too often overlooked in formal education. From K–12 classrooms to university campuses, these learning programs invite makers at every level to think critically, work with their hands, and connect more deeply with the communities and histories that shape American craft.”
K–12 Education Guides with a special focus on grades K–12, free education guides inspired by episodes of the Peabody Award-winning Craft in America documentary series on PBS explore the history, cultural traditions, and impact of craft in the United States, from Indigenous and Native American origins through the present day. 

Produced by Craft in America, the eponymous series profiles artists and makers working across craft traditions while examining the cultural and personal stories embedded within handmade work. Available on handwork2026.org, CraftInAmerica.org, and through PBS LearningMedia, the guides include hands-on craft activities, encouraging critical thinking and creative engagement. Teachers can use the guides to facilitate discussions on art and culture, assign creative and responsive writing prompts, and engage students in hands-on projects. 

The materials are designed to support connections across multiple disciplines, including environmental science, history, and social studies, and can function either as standalone units or as supplements to existing classroom curricula. The full library of education guides produced for previous seasons of Craft in America is available here. 

Additional information about Handwork 2026 educational programming is available at www.handwork2026.org.

Original article here.