is pleased to present Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026,
a nationwide 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 through the following programs:
Exhibitions & Events
Museums and arts organizations joining as participants in the Handwork 2026 initiative will complete the rich diversity of interpretations on the work of the hand with EXHIBITIONS and EVENTS throughout 2026. We invite all museums and regional arts centers to join this effort with the craft-centric, culture-based exhibitions to honor the handmade during our nation’s Semiquincentennial.
Handwork 2026 will culminate with a CORE EXHIBITION opening in late 2026 at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft.
PBS Documentary Series
Four special episodes of Craft in America, the Peabody Award-winning, PBS DOCUMENTARY SERIES, will premiere this winter as part of Handwork 2026. With episodes entitled EAST, WEST, NORTH and SOUTH, the series will present a rich, democratic exploration of the handmade in traditional, studio, ethnic, and contemporary practices.
EAST and WEST premiere on Friday, December 19th at 9/8c and 10/9c on PBS
Digital Content
From the team behind the Craft in America television series, three DIGITAL CONTENT initiatives are in development, expanding access to craft education and inspiring viewers nationwide.
- Handmade America will showcase short-form videos featuring new artists and archival footage from Craft in America.
- Hand in Hand (working title), an original digital series, will explore the stories of iconic objects of American craft and how they have evolved through time.
- Craft Across America will present a curated collection of craft-focused films from PBS stations and participating organizations, all available on the Handwork 2026 website.
Publication
Presenting the extraordinary range of the handmade in the United States, the Handwork 2026 BOOK will feature craft history, artists, materials and processes, focusing on undertold stories. The BOOK will be object-based and object-driven. It will include essays by leading experts, artist statements, and images of exquisite and remarkable handmade objects. It will illuminate the contributions of craftspeople throughout our history. It will be one of the first and only books to bridge history by exploring the craft continuum over the span of American culture.
Release Date: Spring 2026
Education
The EDUCATION component of Handwork 2026 will include interdisciplinary learning initiatives at all levels of the education system, with a special focus on grades K–12. Education guides will take a wide look at the history, cultural traditions, and impact of craft in the United States, from Indigenous origins until today, and will include hands-on craft activities. Available in January 2026 on craftinamerica.org, handwork2026.org and through PBS Learning Media.
A university-level artist residency program is also in development thanks to a generous grant from the Windgate Foundation.
Engagement
In partnership with local, state and national organizations, Handwork 2026 will be amplified by a robust SOCIAL MEDIA campaign: Craft250. Handwork 2026 will collaborate with craft makers, artists, museums and organizations to feature 250 posts – one for each working day of 2026 – to shine a spotlight on a particular object, process, technique or tradition, sparking a conversation and creating a forum for new ideas.