The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design Moves Downtown

The Center’s new 3-story home is situated in the heart of downtown Asheville’s thriving arts, music, and restaurant scene at 67 Broadway Street. The building, circa 1912, originally served as a garage, machine and repair shop, and automobile showroom before housing the Asheville-born and craft-focused book publisher Lark Books.

For nearly two decades, The Center has garnered the respect of the national and international crafts community with conferences, exhibitions, and publications, while also brokering millions of dollars in grants to prominent and aspiring craft artists, scholars, and institutions.

In 2010, The Center produced Makers: A History of American Studio Craft the first studio craft survey published by UNC Press. By moving to downtown Asheville, The Center will increase its local impact while maintaining  its national focus, visibly, and dedication to craft.

“Western North Carolina is the crossroads for craft in the United States,” said Stephanie Moore, The Center’s executive director. “The Center plans to draw attention, visitors, and resources to Asheville. This facility provides the space to form significant partnerships and leave a lasting imprint — not only to preserve craft’s legacy but also to ensure its future.”

The Center’s first exhibition at the new space is Taking Shape: Celebrating the Windgate Fellowship. The show was juried by Cindi Strauss, the curator of Modern and Contemporary Decorative Arts and Design at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and features works from 14 of the 50 artists who were awarded Windgate Fellowships in the first five years of the program, which is now in its ninth year. A closing reception and building dedication will follow in May.

The 2014 schedule continues with CTRL+P, an exhibition that investigates the implications of digital technologies on the making of sculptural and functional objects. Curated by Anna Walker and organized by the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the exhibit will be on display from May 16 – August 23, 2014. In partnership with Warren Wilson College’s Holden Visual Arts Center and Gallery, The Center will display a selection of internationally renowned Gee’s Bend quilts from September 5 – December 30, 2014.

Exhibitions at The Center are free and open to the public, with viewing hours from 10-6 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. For more information, call (828) 785-1357 or visit the Center’s website at www.craftcreativitydesign.org