Join collectors and makers at the 39th Annual National Arts & Crafts Conference
Few gatherings honor the handmade quite like the National Arts & Crafts Conference. Each winter, the Grove Park Inn transforms into a sanctuary for collectors, historians, and makers who, over three days of seminars, demonstrations, and spirited conversation, explore the movement’s enduring ideals. This year’s program turns its focus to the utopian roots of the Arts and Crafts era, spotlighting early artist colonies such as Byrdcliffe, Roycroft, and Rose Valley, founded as antidotes to industrialization and the dehumanizing pace of modern life. Additional presentations explore the elegance of Newcomb College Pottery, the architectural innovation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park office, and the influence of British metalwork on the American revival. Beyond the lectures, the inn’s grand corridors come alive with exhibitor shows featuring antiques, furniture, pottery, textiles, and contemporary craft. “It’s remarkable to see this movement being embraced by the new and dedicated enthusiasts who come to the show and realize the magnitude of what the movement includes,” says conference director Kate Nixon. “My conference means so many things to so many collectors across the entire country; to see it evolve is a massive honor for me.”
39th Annual National Arts and Crafts Conference: February 20-22
The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa / 290 Macon Ave., Asheville / arts-craftsconference.com