American Folklore Society: Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026
Original, full post by American Folklore Society | Events, News from the Field here.
Craft in America is pleased to announce the launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 , a national semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout their history and in contemporary life. Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft, is the lead partner for the initiative and will host the core exhibition for the project. Americans for the Arts, a leading non-profit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, is the Awareness partner for this project.
Americans For The Arts: Americans for the Arts Teams Up With Handwork 2026 To Celebrate Legacy of America Craft in Lead-up to U.S. Semiquincentennial
Full article by the Americans for the Arts here.
(WASHINGTON, DC— April 18, 2024)—Americans for the Arts (AFTA) announces its participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life. Handwork 2026 is a yearlong collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
“Americans for the Arts is honored to serve as an awareness partner for Handwork 2026,” said Nolen Bivens, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Handmade artistry holds a special place in U.S. history, and we are eager to highlight the diverse stories and work that represent American craftsmanship. Handwork 2026’s yearlong initiative aligns with the values of Americans for the Arts by promoting vibrant arts communities and fostering dialogues to strengthen our unique, collective cultural identity.”
AFTA is pleased to join Handwork 2026 lead partners Craft in America, the national organization promoting and advancing original handcrafted work through programs in all media, and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft, which will host the core exhibition for the project, opening in 2026.
“As the flagship museum of American craft, the Renwick Gallery is the driving force in the national conversation about the dynamic landscape of contemporary craft,” said Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. “We are delighted to be a lead partner with Craft in America for Handwork2026. Together we will showcase the artworks being created now by innovative makers that help us better understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us.”
Woodworking Network: Craft in America Announces Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026
5/13/24
Original post by Dakota Smith at Woodworking Network here.
LOS ANGELES – Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
Craft in America announced the launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life.
Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft, is the lead partner for the initiative and will host the core exhibition for the project.
Americans for the Arts, a non-profit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, is the Awareness partner for this project.
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 will be a year-long, nationwide celebration to spotlight the importance of original handcrafted work and to honor the diversity of makers and making, past and present. A project of Craft in America, Handwork 2026 will include a significant online presence and focus its activities on several core initiatives, including:
- National Grassroots Campaign: A campaign in partnership with local, state and national organizations, with a strong social media component that underscores the importance of handwork to both the history and contemporary culture of America in our Semiquincentennial year. A national, 250th Anniversary event to advance the crafts and local creative economies. A grassroots initiative that will also work in the digital realm to broaden access to craft programs and happenings nationwide.
- Core Exhibition: A diverse and inclusive survey, presenting the finest work being done in all craft media and materials, augmented by regional exhibitions that will become destination events showcased through the Handwork 2026 website.
- Book: Presenting the extraordinary range of craft’s presence in our nation, the book will serve as a catalog for the Core Exhibition. It will also showcase craft history, artists, materials and processes, focusing on under-told and overlooked craft stories, with essays by leading craft experts.
- Three-Part Documentary Film Series: produced by Peabody-Award winning Craft in America, which airs nationwide on PBS and presents a rich exploration of craft and craft makers through the spectrum of traditional, studio, ethnic and contemporary practices, including new technologies.
- Education: Interdisciplinary learning initiatives at all levels of the education system, with a special focus on grades K–12, taking a wide look at the history, traditions and impact of craft in the United States, from Indigenous origins until today. Education guides will include hands-on craft activities and will be available online.
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, an idea envisioned by a group of dedicated craft professionals and artists, takes its inspiration from a similar project, Year of American Craft 1993, that benefitted millions of artists, makers and appreciators. Much has changed in America since 1993, but the practice of making things by hand endures.
Craft makes us unique and unites us. From home-based, to workshop-based, to culture-based, to studio- based practices, craft brings people of all backgrounds and beliefs together. Nationwide programs will honor American makers, then and now, pointing the way to a robust future for the crafts and the country.
Please join us in honoring the handmade during our Semiquincentennial year by contacting us at: handwork2026@craftinamerica.org.