The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show was founded in 1977, and was the first retail craft show established and organized by a volunteer committee for the benefit of a non-profit institution. This trailblazing Show has served as a prototype for later successful shows in cities such as Washington, DC, and Evanston, IL among others. The Show is presented each November by the Museum's Women's Committee and the Craft Show Committee for the benefit of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A portion of each year's proceeds is dedicated to the purchase of a craft object for the Museum's permanent collection. Funds raised are also used to underwrite education and publication projects within the Museum; summer intern programs receive financial support as do special exhibitions; proceeds have enabled the purchase of state of the art equipment for the audio-visual and conservation departments; monies have been contributed to the renovation of both Museum infrastructure and galleries as well as external installations such as the Rodin Museum and Mount Pleasant, an 18th Century house in nearby Fairmount Park.
In three decades the Show has grown from 125 to 195 of the finest craftsmen in the nation selected through a highly competitive jury process. This dynamic and premier Show has always been in the forefront of craft education by presenting symposia, on-site artist demonstrations, collection and studio tours, room settings of craft furniture and accessories, and student exhibitions. In 2001 a guest artist program was added whereby 26 artists from a single country are selected to participate in The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. Countries that have participated thus far include Japan, England, Ireland, Germany, Finland and, in 2007, Canada.
Unique to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is the establishment of the Award for Distinguished Achievement in American Craft. The medal, struck in 1985, is given to individuals in the craft community whose creative gifts, love of material and scholarship helped validate and promote contemporary craft through the years. The first recipient was the late Rudolf Staffel. Subsequent recipients of the award have been Harvey Littleton, Sam Maloof, Beatrice Wood, Toshiko Takaezu, and Albert Paley, all of whose works are in the Museum's permanent collection; other recipients are Darrel Sewell, the former curator of American Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Helen Drutt, noted Philadelphia gallery owner, collector and curator.
We gratefully acknowledge the invaluable support of the jurors, the artists, the hundreds of volunteers and the thousands of visitors who each year add interest and vitality to the amazing Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. Join us!
For more information TWCPMA or phone (215) 684-7930.
