Jump to content

American Craft Council

Coordinates: 44°59′59.44″N 93°16′12.3″W / 44.9998444°N 93.270083°W / 44.9998444; -93.270083
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jllm06 (talk | contribs) at 21:31, 9 December 2015 (removed Category:Crafts; added Category:Crafts organizations using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

American Craft Council
AbbreviationACC
Formation1943
FounderAileen Osborn Webb
Merger ofHandcraft Cooperative League of America and American Handcraft Council
TypeNGO
Legal statusNon-profit educational organization
Purposepromote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft
HeadquartersMinneapolis, Minnesota
Location
  • 1224 Marshall Street NE, Suite 200
Coordinates44°59′59.44″N 93°16′12.3″W / 44.9998444°N 93.270083°W / 44.9998444; -93.270083
Websitecraftcouncil.org
Formerly called
American Craftsmen's Cooperative Council (1942–1951)
American Craftsmen’s Educational Council (1943–1955)
American Craftsmen's Council (1955–1969)
American Crafts Council (1969–1979)

The American Craft Council (ACC), was founded in 1943 as a national, nonprofit, educational organization to support and foster interest in the crafts in America. The council sponsors national craft shows, publishes American Craft magazine,[1] and has an extensive awards program.[2] In 1956, with the help of philanthropist Aileen Webb, the ACC opened the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York City, which eventually became the Museum of Arts and Design. The ACC supports and is supported by artists, teachers, scholars, collectors, gallery owners and professionals in many fields, including woodturning, ceramic art, fiber art, woodworking, glass art, papermaking, lapidary, lace making, metalworking, jewelry, needlepoint, and quilting.

At their headquarters, as part of their ongoing educational initiatives, the ACC maintains a resource library containing over fifteen thousand volumes, including rare exhibition catalogues and archives, possibly the most comprehensive collection of materials on American craft in the United States.

Beginning in 1966 the ACC has sponsored the American Craft Council Shows[3][4]

History

The American Craft Council was founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb. According to Emily Zaiden:[5]

No other organization has played a more important role nationally in the history of American crafts than the American Craft Council. Without the dedication and persistence of leading art patron and philanthropist Aileen Osborn Webb, the group might never have been created.

Philosophy

The mission of the American Craft Council is to champion craft by promoting the understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft.

See also

References