Penland School of Craft is dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Penland offers one-, two-, and eight-week workshops in books and paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, and wood. The school also offers artists’ residencies, community collaboration programs, and a gallery and information center.

The Penland Gallery & Visitor Center, located at the entrance of Penland School, serves as an inspiring introduction to contemporary craft. The gallery features curated exhibitions from March to December, showcasing the work of current and former Penland instructors, resident artists, and alumni from across the country. The Visitor Center Gallery provides a visual overview of Penland’s history and current programming, while the Lucy Morgan Sales Gallery showcases an impressive collection of functional and sculptural craft created by over one hundred fifty artists.

At Penland, craft involves continuous exploration of materials, techniques, and ideas. The gallery supports both the artists and their works, which embody this creative philosophy.

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As one of the leading craft-collecting institutions in the United States, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is dedicated to the research and interpretation of contemporary craft. Dating from 1940 to the present and international in scope, the collection represents all media including ceramics, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metalwork, sculptural and turned wood and alternative materials. Important collections include the Helen Williams Drutt Collection of jewelry, the Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio Collection of ceramics, the Leatrice and Melvin Eagle Collection of craft, and the Carol Straus Collection of fiber art.

Founded in 1900, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is the oldest museum in Texas, and one of the largest cultural institutions in the United States, with over 270,000 square feet of space dedicated to the display of art. Nearly one million visitors engage annually with the Museum’s permanent collection of more than 70,000 objects. The encyclopedic collections of the MFAH cover world cultures dating from antiquity to the present.

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Explore the historical significance of Methodism in the oldest continuously used Methodist church building in America, purchased in 1769.

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The de Saisset Museum provides ambitious and groundbreaking exhibition and educational programing to our diverse publics on and off campus that are timely and multifaceted in nature. We foreground projects that highlight the varied realities lived by our diverse community of practitioners and support Santa Clara University’s goal of educating the whole person through interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships. Our work is experimental; we function as a test-site for new ideas, methodologies, and practices and aspire to be in a constant state of evolution. We are governed by a code of ethics that foreground diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is reflected in all that we do.

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Established in 1971, Contemporary Craft seeks to engage the public in creative experiences through craft by presenting innovative exhibitions featuring international, national, and regional artists; offering a range of hands-on workshops in their newly expanded studios; providng a variety of community engagement programming; and representing some of today’s best craft artists in their Store. Contemporary Craft supports regional and national artists through its Artists-in-Residence programs, providing access to their fully equipped studios, stipends, and for the National Artists-in-Residence free housing and a semi-private studio space.

In 2025, Contemporary Craft underwent a major expansion, doubling the organization’s size. This expansion included the creation of a new regional gallery, expanded metals and fibers studios, the re-introduction of a wood studio, and the introduction of a new urban blacksmithing studio. The expanded CC campus includes the Raphael Building and the new Timmons Studios.

Admission to Contemporary Craft’s exhibitions is always free, and the organization seeks to provide a variety of avenues for individuals to experience the joy of craft.

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Paradise City Arts brings the best in contemporary art and design to New England—curated, cutting-edge, and unforgettable. Our award-winning festivals attract thousands of collectors, creatives, and curious minds who come to discover 200+ visionary artists & makers from across the country. It’s more than an art show—it’s a full-on experience: think live music, killer local food, and a vibe that’s equal parts gallery, street fair, and creative playground.

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The mission of the League of NH Craftsmen is to advance, cultivate and champion excellence in fine craft. The League supports the cultivation of craftsmen and communities to engage with and appreciate fine art and craft and its significance as a cornerstone of NH’s culture.

The League was established in 1932 with support from the state of New Hampshire, the first state in the union to support crafts. The following year, the first Craftsmen’s Fair was held—now the oldest continuously operating outdoor craft fair in the country—and it has grown to draw over 20,000 people annually.

Throughout its 90+ year history, the League has helped craftspeople sell their work, hone their skills, and educate future generations. Today, over 700 juried craftspeople produce exceptional contemporary and traditional craft in a range of media, from baskets and pottery to printmaking and wood, from jewelry and handblown glass to photography and sculpture.

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The Lawrence Arts Center (LAC) is a multidisciplinary community arts organization in Lawrence, Kansas, dedicated to activating the artist in everyone. Founded in 1975, the LAC offers dynamic programming in exhibitions, performance, and arts education. Central to its mission is a strong focus on craft, with year-round youth and adult visual arts classes in ceramics, printmaking, metalsmithing, fibers, glass, and more. Seven fully equipped studios support both traditional and contemporary craft practices, with instruction from local, regional, and visiting artists. Artist residencies, internships, and free workshops deepen engagement for all skill levels. Located in the vibrant heart of downtown Lawrence, the Arts Center also has three galleries, a theater, dance studios, and arts-based early childhood classrooms. Each year, over 450,000 people engage in LAC’s innovative and inclusive arts programming.

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The Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together.

Located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, Iowa, the Figge is the premier art exhibition and education facility between Chicago and Des Moines. Its landmark glass building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, features a public art installation by world-renowned artist Leo Villareal called Evanescent Field that illuminates the Figge’s exterior with dynamic patterns of light.

The Figge is home to one of the Midwest’s finest art collections and presents world-class exhibitions, art classes, lectures, and special events that attract visitors of all ages. The collection features European, American, Spanish Viceregal art, Haitian art, and modern and contemporary works. The Figge is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

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The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art museum that works at the intersection of artistic innovation and creative collaboration. For nearly five decades, we have created and presented groundbreaking works of art through our Artist-in-Residence Program, which provides artists the opportunity to experiment with new materials, taking their work in fresh and unexpected directions.

Founded in 1977, FWM presents ambitious exhibitions that unite process with finished works. What began as an invitation for artists to experiment with fabric and screenprinting has evolved into a dynamic platform for creative exploration across sculpture, installation, video, photography, ceramics, and architecture. FWM’s collection preserves not only artworks and editions but also material samples, prototypes, and documentation, capturing the full arc of artistic production.

With free admission and hands-on learning, we inspire the public with the spirit of discovery, advancing art’s role as a catalyst for creativity and social connection.

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The Avondale Arts Center is a community arts space in Avondale Estates, GA. Founded and operated by the volunteer board of the Avondale Arts Alliance, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the space serves as a gathering place for artists and neighbors.

We showcase works by hundreds of local artists each year through group shows and special mini exhibitions. We also offer workshop space for local artists and businesses who wish to teach their skills to others, and facilitate community meetups for local organizations within the space.

As a nonprofit, we also advocate for public art and collaborate with local businesses and city government to provide opportunities for art experiences for all.

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The Art Complex Museum is located in the historic town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 33 miles south of Boston. It houses the impressive art collection of the Carl A. Weyerhaeuser family.

The collection includes over 8,000 art objects, including American and European prints, rare books, American paintings, Shaker furniture, Asian art, and additional treasures.

The museum offers a year-round schedule of exhibitions, featuring thematic shows from the permanent collection and shows by contemporary artists. Additional programming includes lectures, concerts, education programs, demonstrations and Japanese tea ceremonies, fulfilling the founders’ vision that their family’s many interests be shared with the community.

This unique venue offers visitors an inviting place for viewing and learning about art in an intimate and comfortable setting.

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Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts.

With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. The museum addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today.

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The Book Arts Center of Arkansas is located within the UAFS Art and Design department. The center teaches classes in support of Studio Art and  Graphic Design, as well as workshops and studio support for book artists and regional practitioners.

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Haystack connects people through craft.

The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts is an international craft school located on the Atlantic Ocean in Deer Isle, Maine. Founded in 1950 as a research and studio program in the arts, Haystack offers one and two-week studio workshops to participants of all skill levels as well as the two-week Open Studio Residency program, exhibitions, tours, auctions, artist presentations, and shorter workshops for Maine residents and high school students. In 2026, Haystack celebrates 75 years since the School’s founding.

We support visiting artists and scholars from a variety of fields, including science, literature, music, and the visual arts, who are invited to spend two weeks at the school focusing on their work. Haystack also functions as a ʻthink-tankʼ in looking at craft—publishing annual monographs and organizing a variety of conferences and symposia that examine craft in broader contexts. These include collaborations with other institutions such as the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution. The award-winning campus was designed by noted American architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and opened in 1961 when the school relocated to Deer Isle.

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