Vermont Crafts Council – the Early Days

Check back to see more stories from the beginning of the Vermont Crafts Council.

The Vermont Crafts Council was founded in January of 1990 by a group of Vermont artists and representatives from existing groups including Vermont Hand Crafters, the state craft centers at Frog Hollow and Windsor House, galleries like the Artisans Hand, and promoters like Craft Producers with advice from Vermont Arts Council staff.

In this early newsletter, you’ll see many familiar names. These craft industry leaders came together to create an umbrella organization, that would represent the Vermont craft industry and craft artists to departments of state government that, we felt, should be promoting us.

Keep in mind that communication networks in 1990 were by phone, postal mail, and through in-person events.

Marketing was primarily through galleries, national and in state craft shows and exhibits. There were juries for entrance to these markets and high standards for the work were applied by event managers.

Being able to make a living from your craft was dependent on access to these markets.

The story behind the name: “Vermont Crafts Council”

When we were founded, craft artists were often excluded from art shows and galleries because they were considered a “lower” form of art. In reaction, our initial intention was to support only artists working in the big five craft media: Clay, Fiber, Glass, Metal and Wood. However, after we launched Open Studio Weekend, we received many inquiries from painters and other “fine” artists who also had studios and wanted to participate. At that point, we decided to open membership to all Vermont visual artists.