James Renwick Alliance for Craft

06/11/2026

Great read from the New York Foundation for the Arts, featuring leaders from five important craft organizations discussing the current state of the field.

We’re especially proud to see Kristin Muller, Executive Director of Peters Valley School of Craft and a member of the JRACraft board, included in the conversation.

The piece also got us thinking: Who else should be part of this discussion? What organizations or regions are missing? Why no West Coast voices?

We’d love to hear from you: Which craft organizations are shaping the field today?

How Craft Artists Are Creating Today - Nyfa

06/02/2026

What does a summer of reading craft look like? Dr. Michelle Millar Fisher has few ideas.

Her class on Reading Craft takes a look at some of craft's best--and worse--scholarship. Here are just a few of the titles participants can look forward to!

Registration is still open!

READING CRAFT
Taught by Dr. Michelle Millar Fisher
Wednesday 12pm - 1:15pm ET
July 1 - July 29
Members: $109
Non-Members $139

https://www.jracraft.org/summer-classes.html

06/01/2026

Craft artists--your input is needed! Help the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) serve you better by responding to their survey.

Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) is conducting a new field-wide survey to better understand the conditions shaping craft artists’ lives and work today. The survey explores financial stability, preparedness, workspace changes, support systems, market pressures, and barriers to accessing resources.

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, is available in English and Spanish, and responses will remain confidential. A summary of findings will be shared publicly in late August.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CERFSurvey26

Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) está realizando una nueva encuesta para toda la comunidad del oficio para comprender mejor las condiciones que están dando forma a las vidas y prácticas de artistas/artesanxs en la actualidad. La encuesta explora estabilidad financiera, preparación, cambios en espacios de trabajo, sistemas de apoyo, presiones del mercado y barreras para acceder a recursos.

La encuesta toma aproximadamente 15 minutos para completarse, está disponible en inglés y español, y las respuestas se mantendrán confidenciales. Un resumen de los hallazgos será compartido públicamente a finales de agosto.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CERFSurvey26

+

05/29/2026

Using traditional African doll making techniques, Chris Malone's sculpture explores themes of spirituality and ancestry, striking a balance between play and otherworldliness. A self-taught artist, Chris has received national recognition. His work has been featured in exhibitions in New York, New Orleans, and Washington, DC.

Join us this Saturday, May 30, for a FREE Coffee and Conversation online event with Chris Malone.

Chris will share stories of his practice and inspiration, as well as take us on an exciting, behind-the-scenes tour of his studio.

The event is free, but registration is required!
Sign up via the link below
https://www.jracraft.org/jracraftevents/coffee-conversation-with-chris-malone

COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS MALONE
Saturday May 30, 2026 | 11am-12pm ET
Online via Zoom
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!

05/28/2026

Introducing our 2026 Chrysalis Award jurors!
✨️ Garth Johnson, craft writer curator, and educator ()
✨️Shoji Satake, ceramic artist and educator ()
✨️Josh Green, NCECA executive director ( )

Now in its 10th year, the Chrysalis Award was established to support and inspire emerging craft artists in the United States. Each year, we focus on a different medium. This year: Ceramics.

Ideal candidates demonstrate excellence in their work and a strong commitment to developing their practice in unique and dynamic ways. The recipient receives a $5,000 unrestricted award, a one-year JRACraft membership, and the opportunity to present their work at a JRACraft event!

🗓 Deadline to apply: August 23, 2026

See the application and eligibility criteria online at https://www.jracraft.org/chrysalis-award.html

05/27/2026

School's in session--Summer School with JRACraft, that is!

In partnership with Craft in America's Handwork 2026 project, JRACraft is offering three evening classes starting June 1. All courses are 4-weeks and taught online via Zoom.

Registration is still open, but classes are starting SOON! Hope to see you there!

BLACK CRAFT IN THE UNITED STATES
Taught by Dr. Aleia M. Brown
Mondays 6pm - 7:30pm ET
June 1 - June 22
Members: $115
Non-Members: $145
---
AMERICAN GLASS
Taught by Mary Mills
Tuesdays, 7pm - 8:30 pm
June 9 - June 30
Members: $115
Non-Members: $145
----
READING CRAFT
Taught by Dr. Michelle Millar Fisher
Wednesday 12pm - 1:15pm ET
July 1 - July 29
Members: $109
Non-Members $139

Register via the link in our bio.
https://www.jracraft.org/summer-classes.html

Join us for our fourth year of craft history summer courses! ​This year, we are partnering with Craft in America's Handwork 2026 project, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of...

05/20/2026

Looking for your next summer read? Dr. Michelle Millar Fisher has a few titles you might be interested in.

This summer, she will head a four-week class on craft scholarship. In her words, students will be "looking at the good, for sure, but also some of the bad and the ugly."

Sound like fun? Class registration is now open!

READING CRAFT
Taught by Dr. Michelle Millar Fisher
Wednesday 12pm - 1:15pm ET
July 1 - July 29

https://www.jracraft.org/summer-classes.html

05/19/2026

Want to have your work featured in the American University's Katzen Art Center? We want to hear from you!!

We are actively seeking JRACraft member artists and collectors who are interested in lending up to three examples of their work. Selected pieces will be displayed in locked cases donated by the James Renwick Alliance for a loan period of 3-5 months.

The next installation is scheduled in early June and on display through August.

Visit the link in our bio for more information and application. The deadline for applying for this current cycle is May 29 and is open to members of JRACraft.

https://www.jracraft.org/jracraftnews/open-call-for-craft-showcase-at-the-katzen-arts-center

05/19/2026

This year, we're asking our amazing community what they love about JRACraft.

As an artist whose work often merges woodworking and textile traditions, Laura Petrovich-Cheney knew something was missing in her life--the ability to engage in meaningful dialogues about material and craft histories. She found this at JRACraft.

If you'd like to share your love, please reach out as we celebrate craft through stories, collaborations, events... and even a few surprises. 😉

❤️JRACraft
❤️ ❤️

05/15/2026

This summer, don't miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about the social history of black makers, as taught by noted professor Dr. Aleia M. Brown. Her class, Handwork, Soulwork: Black Craft in the United States, explores the different practices, craftspeople, and the material conditions in which they created their work. At the end of this four-week course, participants will leave the class with a deep understanding of Black craft.

BLACK CRAFT IN THE UNITED STATES
Taught by Dr. Aleia M. Brown
June 1 - June 22
Members: $115 | Non-Members: $145

https://www.jracraft.org/summer-classes.html