Early Arts and Crafts societies in cities such as Boston, Chicago, and New York gathered to hear speakers reveal the evils of the Industrial Revolution and applaud the virtues of the simple life, one lived among handcrafted furnishings which William Morris described as those “you know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.”

Following in that tradition, the National Arts and Crafts Conference was founded in 1988 as a three-day educational event for Arts and Crafts collectors. It was built on a foundation of seminars presented by researchers, authors, craftsmen, and scholars.

In no particular order, the speakers scheduled to appear at the 2025 conference are:

Are You Being Served? The Bounty of the Arts and Crafts Dining Room

by Kevin Tucker

Chief Curator, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA

Denman Ross and the Science of Beauty

by Marie Frank

Associate Professor, Architectural Studies Program Director, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Kataro Shirayamadani:  Rookwood’s Most Talented and Most Mysterious Artist

by Riley Humler

President of the American Art Pottery Association, Early 20th Century Art Pottery and Ceramics Expert, Antiques Roadshow Appraiser

China Painting Redeemed: The Art and Craft of Chicago’s Florence Pratt Steward

by Sharon Darling

Author of numerous essays and publications on Chicago Decorative Arts, including Chicago Metalsmiths, Chicago Ceramics & Glass, Chicago Furniture, and Teco: Art Pottery of the Prairie School

The Artistic Achievement of Dard Hunter: A Personal Perspective

by Dard Hunter III of Dard Hunter Studios

Announcement of additional presentations to follow in the coming weeks