When we think of craft, visions of hand-blown glass or pottery may
come to mind. But organizers of American Craft Week, the nation’s
largest annual craft celebration, want you to think in broader terms.
This year they are celebrating the fact that craft creates jobs, vibrant
communities, and beautiful places.
“Craft creates beautiful objects, but there is so much more,” says
Diane Sulg, founder of American Craft Week. “Craft creates jobs for
thousands of Americans. The impact of this creative economy is profound,
for individuals, communities, and the entire nation.”
“When we started American Craft Week, we wanted to involve galleries
and festivals so we could draw the public’s attention to craft. But in
the course of six years our vision has become so much wider, mainly
because craft in this country is so pervasive and exciting.”
In 2014, American Craft Week encompassed events in all fifty states.
Several states, including Vermont, Maine and Virginia have official
celebrations backed by tourism and economic development dollars. In
Pennsylvania and North Dakota, Visitor and Convention Bureaus
coordinated craft-centered events, and large areas in North Carolina and
California organize large, regional celebrations.
“In addition to the tangibles, such as jobs and tourism that craft
creates, there are a host of very real but intangible byproducts of
craft that are responsible for the growth of craft. People love knowing
who made an item and seeing the hand of the artist in the work. Craft
creates connections, memories, and strong emotions that simply do not
exist with mass produced merchandise,” explained Diane Sulg.
“We know we are achieving our goal of raising appreciation of craft,
because every day we see another article featuring American handmade,
even in stores traditionally filled with manufactured imports, they want
to get on our bandwagon!”
