Formerly known as the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s African American Craft Initiative, the renamed African African American Craft Alliance, brings craft artisans, makers and organizations together to encourage the vitality of African American craft, support efforts to document and present African American work, strengthen networks, and increase access to opportunities and resources.

The African American Craft Alliance began in 2020 as an Initiative of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage to address the needs of the African American craft community through workshops, network building, documentation, and public programming. Beginning in 2024, the work has continued and expanded  as the African American Craft Alliance, supported by the Folk Education Network Alliance and working in partnership with a network of African American craft artists, regional and national craft organizations to support the needs and promote the visibility and vitality of African American craft and artists/craftpersons.

The AACA was  founded by textile artist scholar, Fulbright specialist, and Smithsonian curator alumnus, Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye.

…

The National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) is a nationwide organization devoted to the advancement of embroidery as an art form. Established in 1985, NAN’s goal is to uphold the highest standards in the needlearts by providing excellence in education to all those interested in furthering their embroidery skills as teachers, judges, artists, designers, authors, or technically proficient embroiderers.

NAN’s Assembly for Embroiderers is an annual needlework seminar open to all stitchers—not just those aspiring to become teachers and judges. We offer a diverse and interesting array of classes each year, including canvaswork, surface embroidery, various counted thread techniques, color and design classes, art classes pertinent to the needlearts, and Japanese embroidery. Immediately preceding Assembly, workshops are held for those in certification programs or who wish to learn more about our programs. The Exemplary, our annual needlework showcase, is held in conjunction with the Assembly.

…

We at the Surface Design Association (SDA) promote awareness and appreciation of fiber art and support to artists and writers through publications, exhibitions, and events.

We are a community of thousands of textile artists, curators, educators, and enthusiasts across 40 countries and 6 continents. Our community encompasses the breadth and depth of contemporary artists and designers working with or inspired by fiber art and/or textile-based materials, methods, and techniques.

As an organization, we embrace fiber and textiles in the broadest terms including performance, social practice, and sound-based works. If you love textiles, you already belong.

…

SNAG is an international non-profit organization committed to advancing jewelry and metalsmithing by inspiring creativity, encouraging education, and fostering community. Founded in 1969 as The Society of North American Goldsmiths, the organization has evolved to include and promote diverse expressions of jewelry, adornment, body-related objects, sculpture, and installation. SNAG publishes Metalsmith magazine; facilitates in-person and virtual conferences, events, and exhibitions; provides scholarships for educational advancement; and more.

…

The Women of Color Quilters Network is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by Carolyn L. Mazloomi, a nationally-acclaimed quilt artist and lecturer, to foster and preserve the art of quiltmaking among women of color.

It supports its membership through presentations, shared technical information, grant writing, and other services. It offers quilts and fiber art by its members to museums for national and international exhibitions, and researches and documents African American quiltmaking.

Members’ quilts can be found in the permanent collection of museums such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian African American Museum, Wadsworth Museum, and the Boston Fine Arts Museum. WCQN has been recognized by the International Labor Department in Geneva and the United Nations for its developmental programs to help advance women socially and economically.

WCQN educational programs and workshops present the benefits of quilting to audiences of all ages, income levels, ethnic background and learning abilities.

…