William & Susan Schran User on thu 5 nov 09
Hey Mel,
You'll have a new neighbor:
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2009
Contact:
Bernadette Boyle
American Craft Council
212- 274-0630 x252
bboyle@craftcouncil.org
AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL ANNOUNCES RELOCATION TO MINNEAPOLIS
National nonprofit dedicated to championing contemporary American craft wil=
l
open Minneapolis office in July 2010
New York, NY - The American Craft Council
, =
a
national nonprofit organization dedicated to championing contemporary
American craft, today announced plans to relocate from New York City to
Minneapolis, Minn. The Council plans to open its new office in July 2010,
and is currently in negotiations for a space.
"The Council is proud to have been headquartered in New York for 66 years,
but the high cost of doing business in the city is not a sustainable
financial model for our organization given the current economic climate,"
said Leilani Duke, Chair of the American Craft Council Board. "As part of =
a
year-long strategic planning process, the Council Board determined that
relocating to the Midwest - with its rich craft traditions and energetic
artist communities - is an exciting and positive step. The move ensures
that the Council can achieve its mission of championing contemporary
American craft throughout the Unites States while effectively managing
operational costs."
The American Craft Council will join a number of nationally-known art and
craft organizations in the Twin Cities area, including the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts, Minnesota State Arts Board, American Association of
Woodturners, Northern Clay Center, The Textile Center and Minnesota Center
for Book Arts. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to the third-largest number of
museums in the country, including the Walker Art Center and the Frederick R=
.
Weisman Art Museum.
"Minneapolis, one of the country's most vibrant centers for art and craft,
provides tremendous opportunities for the Council to enhance its
contributions to art and craft communities at a national and local level,"
continued Duke. "The Council has presented an annual juried craft show in
St. Paul for 23 years, which has already helped us to build strong
connections in the community. The Council looks forward to exploring
partnerships and collaborations with craft organizations, museums and
academic institutions in the region."
"Nearly 9,000 people work in the arena of nonprofit arts and culture in
Minneapolis." said R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis. "The arts are a
driving force in the city's economy. Already home to 275 arts and cultural
organizations, we welcome th American Craft Council to our community."
As part of its relocation, The Council plans to house its library - the
nation's largest library collection of print and visual materials on
American craft - in its new space in Minneapolis. Containing more than
6,400 books, 7,000 exhibition catalogs, 700 bound volumes of leading
periodicals, a substantial collection of artist files and an accompanying
database, the Council's library will be available to the public.
"The Downtown Council is delighted by the relocation of one of the nation's
most important arts organizations to Minneapolis," said Sam Grabarski,
president of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. "In addition to bringing
jobs to the local economy, the Council's library and historic materials wil=
l
be a unique resource to our community. As a community, we are second to
none in terms of corporate or foundation support of the arts, so I am
confident the Council will thrive here."
American Craft Council Programs
As part of the Council's ongoing advocacy for craft, the Council presents
the following programs:
* Annual Juried Craft Shows: The Council's juried shows present outstandin=
g
works by America's leading craftspeople for retail and wholesale purchase.
Since 1966, the Council's shows have grown to become a model of quality and
leadership in the craft field and a major support system for professional
craftspeople. The Council currently presents annual shows in St. Paul,
Minn; Baltimore, Md.; Atlanta, Ga.; and San Francisco, Calif.
* National Conferences and Education Programs: The Council hosts
interactive conferences to investigate critical issues in the fields of
craft and design. In 2009, the Council presented 'Creating a
New Craft Culture'
i=
n
Minneapolis. Other Council symposia and programs help students and emergin=
g
artists learn to succeed in the field. Through its School-to-Market
program, for example, the Council invites undergraduate students in craft
and materials studies programs to curate an exhibition of their work at the
American Craft Council Show in Baltimore. Students learn the business of
marketing their work, gaining valuable experience in booth design,
installation, interaction with the public and networking with other
exhibiting artists.
* American Craft Magazine: The Council serves a readership of 90,000 with
American Craft
, =
a
bi-monthly magazine that features undiscovered makers and innovative
artistic leaders to connect the converging worlds of craft, design, art,
fashion, architecture and industry.
* Library and Craft Archives: The Council maintains the nation's largest
library collection of print and visual materials on American craft.
Containing more than 6,400 books, 7,000 exhibition catalogs, 700 bound
volumes of leading periodicals, a substantial collection of artist files an=
d
an accompanying database, the library is a significant repository for
informational resources on craft.
* Awards: The Council presents several awards to recognize talent in the
craft field: The Aileen Osborn Webb Awards: Honor individuals and
organizations whose artistry and leadership have enriched the craft field i=
n
the United States. Awards of Excellence: Recognize outstanding design and
craftsmanship by artists exhibiting in the annual American Craft Council
Shows. American Craft Council Fellow Program: The designation of American
Craft Council Fellow signifies an artist of outstanding ability; the
designation American Craft Council Honorary Fellow signifies an individual
who in other ways has made an important contribution to craft. The College
of Fellows has been formed by peer election, with those elected required to
have worked 25 years or more in the discipline/career in which he/she is
being recognized.
Editors, please note - Interviews are available with:
- Lelaini Duke, Chair of the Board, American Craft Council
- Marlin Miller, Treasurer, Chair of the Relocation Committee, American
Craft Council For interviews or more information, please contact Alicia
Balkrishna at alicia@landispr.com / 415-359-2316 or Bernadette Boyle at
bboyle@craftcouncil.org / 212-274-0630 x252.
About the American Craft Council The American Craft Council's mission is to
champion craft. As a national, nonprofit public educational organization
founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb, the Council actively promotes the
understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft through its
bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, annual juried shows presenting artists
and their work, leadership conferences, awards for excellence, research
library, workshop and seminars. For additional information visit:
www.craftcouncil.org
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
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