“In just three days, you will see more, do more, and learn more about the American Arts and Crafts movement than you could anywhere else in an entire year.”
– Director Emeritus Bruce Johnson
The 2023 National Arts and Crafts
Conference and Shows Preview
Pre-Conference Workshops
Part One: Thursday, February 16th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Part Two: Friday, February 17th from 8:00am to 11:00am
Each year we offer a series of hands-on workshops for those of you who have arrived early. These are limited in size and the classes fill up quickly. Pre-Conference Workshops are not included in the Conference Events Pass registration fee and require a separate sign up process.
Returning for the 2023 National Arts and Crafts Conference workshops are:
-
Coppersmithing: Arts & Crafts Style with Frank Glapa
-
Arts & Crafts Woodblock Printmaking with Laura Wilder
-
Arts & Crafts Embroidery with Natalie Richards
-
Art Metal with Ron Van Ostrand
Above is a list of the workshops that have been confirmed to return so far. Come back in the early Winter season to see the final schedule.
To sign up or for more information, email acconferenceinfo@charter.net.
The Pre-Conference Workshop signups will start September 20th, 2022. Please call the office at (828) 628-1915 to sign up for one of the workshops starting September 20th onwards.
The 36th National Arts and Crafts Shows
In February 2023, the 8th and 10th floors of the Grove Park Inn’s Vanderbilt Wing will feature the country’s best Arts and Crafts providers and organizations in the country. The three juried shows – The Antiques Show, The Contemporary Craftsfirms Show and the Books and More Show – feature the highest quality in antique and contemporary Arts and Crafts furniture, pottery and tile, metalwork, textiles, lighting, jewelry, rugs, artwork, and woodblock prints, showcasing hand craftsmanship and simple yet elegant designs.
Below you’ll find walkthroughs of last year’s exhibitor shows.
Educational Seminars
The 36th National Arts & Crafts Conference comes to the historic Grove Park Inn’s Heritage Ballroom with unforgettable and inspiring educational seminars. Have a look at a few of this year’s speakers in no particular order.
Please note this is not the full list of speakers and the full schedule will be published later in the fall season.
“The Prairie School Goes West”
by Allen Hazard
“The Arts & Crafts Movement:
Examining the Paper Trail”
by Andre Chaves
“The Arts & Crafts Vision in Pictorialist Photography: West Coast Women”
by Susan Ehrens
Additional speakers will be added soon. Schedule is subject to change…
The Craftsman Reception
hosted by the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
2023 will mark the return of the Craftsman Reception, an annual tradition at the conference featuring a special presentation, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and connecting with fellow Stickley supporters. As always, this party will be hosted by and fundraise for the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and the operation of the early 20th-century country estate of Gustav Stickley.
Further details will follow, but make sure to mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, February 16th, 2023.
Special Tours of the Grove Park Inn
and surrounding areas
Walking Tours of the Historic Grove Park Inn
Hourly Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Join a GPI historian for an informative 45-minute walking tour that will take you to places you might not have found on your own, and will provide you with fascintaing stories about the famous — and infamous — guests, from Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald to presidents from FDR to Obama. A tour not to be missed!
Walking Tours of the Historic Biltmore Industries
Friday 10:00 – 11:00am
(Repeats on Saturday and Sunday.)
No, not the 1895 Biltmore House, but the 1905 Biltmore Industries, which George and Edith Vanderbilt supported. Founded in 1905, Biltmore Industries was one of the longest lasting Arts and Crafts cottage industries, making and carving furniture, bowls, bookends, trays, picture frames, and much more. In 1917 the workshops were moved onto the grounds of the Grove Park Inn, where the Arts and Crafts buildings have been restored as a museum, gallery, cafe, and artisan studios. Step back in time on one of these daily one-hour tours.
The Silent Auction
(Fundraiser for the Arts & Crafts Research Fund)
Known as the largest and finest Arts and Crafts silent auction, this two-day event serves as a fund-raiser for the non-profit Arts and Crafts Research Fund. Bruce Johnson will return as the director of the Arts and Crafts Research Fund during the auction. If you are interested in donating to the ACRF Silent Auction, please click here to access the donation form.
Details coming soon…
Details about other Conference and Show elements coming soon…
There are more details to come this Fall; from our educational seminars to the thought-provoking discussion groups, from the annual Saturday evening movie to the Preservation Society House Tours and the Asheville Art Museum annual event.
We’ll let you know when there are new additions to our schedule.
In the meantime, stay inspired. Als Ik Kan.
Kate Nixon, Director
The National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows at the Grove Park Inn
The view from the Grove Park Inn’s Sunset Terrace looking out over the golf course and the city of Asheville, N.C. It goes perfectly with a glass of your drink of choice.
