Local artists open their studio doors Saturday, Sunday
Bethesda Magazine
By Jacqueline Kalil
7/16/26
The Art Glass Center at Glen Echo Park is a creative hub housed inside one of the campus’s historic buildings and on Saturday and Sunday it will welcome visitors as part of the inaugural National Craft Open Studios Weekend.
For resident artist Janet Wittenberg, it is a chance for more people to discover the cooperative studio and gallery, watch artists at work, learn about glass fusing and casting techniques, and speak with makers about their creative process. The studio will be open from noon to 4 p.m. both days.
“When we have visitors, we show them around, introduce them to our classes, our equipment and our setup, and explain what’s involved in the process,” Wittenberg told Bethesda Today on Wednesday. “People are usually pretty interested because it’s fun to see it all.”
Three other Montgomery County studios are also participating: the Art Glass Center, Cyd Rowley Jewelry in Kensington, Gaithersburg Artist Collective, and Fine Ceramics. Overall, more than 200 studios in 36 states will be taking part in the free event organized by the American Craft Council. The Minneapolis-based nonprofit has spent more than 80 years championing contemporary craft through exhibitions, educational programming and events that connect artists with the public.
“It’s really about connecting artists with people and providing transparency into the way artists work, the processes they’re utilizing and their amazing creative spaces,” Jaimianne Jacobin, the American Craft Council’s director of development, said in a phone interview with Bethesda Today on Tuesday. “I think seeing the process increases the appreciation for the work that is produced.”
Wittenberg said that because of the park’s historic designation, the Art Glass Center can’t rely on prominent signage to attract passersby, making events like National Craft Open Studios Weekend especially valuable.
“We have to be creative and come up with other ways to let people know about us,” Wittenberg said. “This is one way to enlighten those who may not be aware that we’re here.”
The event is part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national initiative marking the country’s 250th anniversary through the work of American makers. Inspired by events such as Record Store Day and Independent Bookstore Day, organizers hope National Craft Open Studios Weekend will become an annual tradition that celebrates craft while helping artists connect with new audiences.
Original article here.
Culture to Do: July 15, 2026
New England Public Media
7/15/26
American Craft Council Open Studios Weekend
The Mill at Shelburne Falls
Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 12 – 5 p.m.
This new nationwide celebration invites the public into the creative spaces of craft artists across the country offering guests a rare glimpse into the processes, tools and inspiration that shape how handmade works are made. National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. It’s a great opportunity to see what the artisans and artists at The Mill at Shelburne Falls are up to.
Local studios open to fans during National Craft Open Studios Weekend, July 18-19
Mitchell News-Journal
7/15/26
Minneapolis, MN —June 29, 2026–The first-ever National Craft Open Studios Weekend will invite the American public to explore the creative spaces of hundreds of craft artists for free on the weekend of July 18 & 19. This two-day event offers guests a rare glimpse into the processes, tools, and inspiration that shape how handmade works are made, and provides craft artists with critical support in their sales season.
Local participating studios include:
Cynthia Bringle Pottery & Gallery, 160 Lucy Morgan Lane in Bakersville
Penland School of Craft
Colleen Connolly, 2574 Rabbit Hop Road in Spruce Pine
Visitors can explore a wide range of creative spaces, from individual artist studios and community workshops to artist collectives and shared studio buildings, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how craft is made and the people who make it.
A comprehensive map of all participating studio locations in both rural and urban areas in 36 states plus the District of Columbia is available online — just register (it’s free with a $10 suggested donation — https://craftcouncil.org/events/national-craft-open-studios-weekend/) to get access to the map. Visitors can look for their next favorite artist in their own backyard or plan a trip farther afield to discover something new.
“From small towns to the biggest cities, communities throughout our country are witnessing an American craft renaissance,” says Andrea Specht, executive director of the American Craft Council. “It is more vital than ever that we see and support the things that bring us together, and for nearly 85 years, ACC has championed craft as a powerful force fostering human dignity and connection.”
National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. Similar to what Record Store Day or Independent Bookstore Day do for their creative ecosystems, National Craft Open Studios Weekend will provide support for artists and makers.
Original article here.
Hundreds of American Craft Artists invite public into their studios during National Craft Open Studios Weekend
Your Sun
7/13/26
The first National Craft Open Studios Weekend will invite the American public to explore the creative spaces of hundreds of craft artists on the weekend of July 18-19.
This two-day event offers guests a rare glimpse into the processes, tools and inspiration that shape how handmade works are made.
Visitors can explore a wide range of creative spaces, from individual artist studios and community workshops to artist collectives and shared studio buildings, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how craft is made and the people who make it.
A comprehensive map of all participating studio locations in both rural and urban areas in 36 states plus the District of Columbia is available online at craftcouncil.org/events/national-craft-open-studios-weekend — just register (it’s free with a $10 suggested donation) to get access to the map. Visitors can look for their next favorite artist in their own backyard or plan a trip farther afield to discover something new.
“From small towns to the biggest cities, communities throughout our country are witnessing an American craft renaissance,” says Andrea Specht, Executive Director of the American Craft Council. “It is more vital than ever that we see and support the things that bring us together, and for nearly 85 years, ACC has championed craft as a powerful force fostering human dignity and connection.”
National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. Similar to what Record Store Day or Independent Bookstore Day do for their creative ecosystems, National Craft Open Studios Weekend will provide support for artists and makers, and strengthen the national craft community through shared storytelling.
The American Craft Council is a national nonprofit fostering connection through the handmade. Building upon an 80-plus year legacy of tradition and innovation as a membership-based nonprofit, ACC leverages the transformative possibilities of craft through storytelling, resources for artists and appreciators, and events. In partnership with organizations across the country, we mobilize our diverse craft ecosystem to create a world where objects matter, makers thrive and craft connects.
Original article here.
American Craft Council – Television: Craft in America “East” and “West”
By Jon Spayde
November 6, 2025
Craft in America is best known for its eponymous PBS docuseries honoring craft artists, but it’s far more than a production company; among other things, it also supports a craft museum and an outreach program in public schools. Next year, it will launch an ambitious nationwide craft initiative to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Called Handwork 2026, it’s intended to, organizers write, “showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life.” More than 250 craft centers, museums, and related organizations will host exhibitions and events.
Craft in America’s flagship show will offer its own coverage through four hour-long special episodes based on the cardinal points of the compass. “East” and “West,” focusing on craft artists in those regions, are set to debut December 19 on PBS, with “North” and “South” to come in December 2026.
“East” and “West” present the makers at work, demonstrating and discussing their histories, aesthetics, and processes, along with assessments from curators, partners, and colleagues. A broad view of American history is on full display.
The portrait of Italian-born master silversmith Ubaldo Vitali in “East,” for example, not only illuminates his immigrant experience but also includes a segment on Paul Revere—Vitali restored several of the patriot-silversmith’s pieces. Bisa Butler’s colorful textile works, often constructed of patterned African cloth, depict African Americans of the recent and more distant past; “East” provides context for her works by adding archival footage of the Black experience. Philadelphia-based Colette Fu, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, found a compelling way to display images in the pop-up book format. She demonstrates a massive hand-cranked volume called Noodle Mountain, in which the paper “noodles” that appear are red to represent the blood spilled in anti-Chinese riots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and yellow for the arson fires that destroyed many Chinatowns.
“West” opens with a quintessential symbol of that region: intricate leather saddles, made in Idaho by Cary Schwarz, a member of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association. The cowboy boots of Graham Ebner of Austin, Texas, are just as carefully crafted, but hardly traditional: The young artist decorates them with images of Paul Bunyan or a UFO’s encounter with an armadillo. Indigenous initiatives are represented by a segment on the New Mexico–based Institute of American Indian Arts, where Native artists exchange ideas and share traditions; and by a group portrait of Native Hawaiian artists introducing sacred crafts like pandanus-leaf weaving and featherwork to a new generation of makers.
It adds up to an account of contemporary American craft that emphasizes its cultural and ethical power as well as its aesthetics and utility. As Cary Schwarz puts it, “Craftsmanship comes down to the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.”
Jon Spayde is a contributing editor to American Craft.
Made in America: Handwork 2026 invites Americans to discover, explore, and celebrate the country’s craft legacy
American Craft Council
Shivaun Watchorn
8/6/25
To celebrate American craft during the country’s 250th birthday, Los Angeles–based Craft in America has partnered with the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum to spearhead Handwork 2026, a yearlong initiative that includes new TV episodes, a book, craft tourism, a national exhibition, and much more.
Major partners, including the American Craft Council, Americans for the Arts, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, PBS, and Ornament magazine, will help to organize and promote the initiative. More than 200 smaller regional craft museums and organizations will also participate in programming throughout the year.
“Craft is not nostalgic. Craft is alive,” says Carol Sauvion, founder of Craft in America. “That’s something we can be very proud of in our country.”
The initiative recalls 1993’s Year of American Craft, when Michael Monroe, then the chief curator of the Renwick, gathered 75 craft objects for display in the White House and brought the likes of Sam Maloof and Dale Chihuly into the storied building.
Visual arts consultant Harriett Green, who is an American Craft Council trustee, suggested doing something similar for the country’s semiquincentennial in 2026. Why not a full year of celebration of the craft that made—and continues to shape— the United States? Here’s what you can look forward to.
TV and Video. Starting in December, a four-part television documentary produced by the team behind the PBS program Craft in America will air on PBS and online, aiming to capture the full range of craft in the US with episodes titled “East,” “West,” “North,” and “South.” Three separate video initiatives—Handmade America, Craft Across America, and Crafting History—will also stream on PBS, YouTube, and Craft in America’s website.
A Book. To be published in spring 2026 by Monacelli Press, a book will feature under-told stories about craft histories, artists, materials, and processes.
Residencies and Education. Handwork 2026 artist residencies at select universities are being funded by the Windgate Foundation. Dr. Marilyn Stewart, an arts educator and textbook author, will oversee the creation of a curriculum for K–12 students that will “take a wide look at the history, cultural traditions, and impact of craft in the United States, from Indigenous origins until today,” according to organizers.
An Exhibition. The capstone of the project will be an exhibition at the Renwick Gallery, opening in November 2026, which will draw on the Smithsonian’s permanent collection and include 10 objects acquired specifically for the show.
Regional Programming. Organizers also hope to connect Americans to the country’s craft history through programming with regional partners. In Houston and upstate New York, for example, neighboring organizations plan to offer “craft trails,” where people can visit a handful of craft sites over a weekend.
Ultimately, the goal is to deepen Americans’ appreciation of the craft artists, materials, and processes that have shaped the country in its past 250 years, divided as the country may now be.
“Craft is unifying and craft is gratifying, and there aren’t many things in this world that have those two traits,” says Sauvion.
Shivaun Watchorn is associate editor of American Craft.
American Craft Council: Craft in America Executive Director, Carol Sauvion, Receives American Craft Council Award of Distinction
Read the full, original article at American Craft Council here.
Congratulations to Craft in America Director, Carol Sauvion, for her Award of Distinction from the American Craft Council! This biannual award recognizes an organization, institution, corporation, or individual who has made significant contributions to the field of craft with a minimum of 25 years of service.
Carol Sauvion is the creator of the Peabody Award winning PBS series Craft in America. The documentary series celebrates American craft and the artists who bring it to life. She is also the Executive Director of the Craft in America non-profit organization which has the mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media. Craft is Sauvion’s lifelong passion. For over 40 years she has been the director of Freehand, her Los Angeles gallery specializing in functional craft. Prior to opening Freehand, Sauvion was a professional potter for ten years. Sauvion has her degree in Art History from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. She has served on the boards of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and the American Craft Council.
In addition, the ACC awarded a Gold Medal for Consummate Craftsmanship to Craft in America artist, Wendy Maruyama. Craft in America artists Syd Carpenter, Michael A. Cummings, Einar and Jamex de la Torre and Diego Romero were added to the American Craft Council’s College of Fellows. Congratulations to all!