The Society of Arts and Crafts was one of America's oldest arts and craft nonprofit organization. The Society moved to Boston's Seaport District in 2016 after being located on Newbury Street for over 40 years. The Society was incorporated by twenty-one individuals on June 28, 1897, and was then known as the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston. The small group was representational of Boston's elites in the fields of teaching, art-making, architecture, and craft. The original Society began with the agreement to "develop and encourage higher artistic standards in the handcrafts."
The original building is a stop on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail walking tour.
Frederic Allen Whiting was the Director at the Society until 1912, when Humphery J. Emery took over. He would serve on the board of directors until the 1930s.
Mission The Society's mission is to support and celebrate craft makers and their creativity. Through its various programs, the organization strives to inspire the creation, assemblage, and promotion of the work of contemporary craft makers. The advancement of public appreciation of fine art has been a lifelong goal of the Society. The Society of Arts + Crafts sponsors exhibitions, the Artist Awards Programs,Artist Awards Programs the John D. Mineck Furniture Fellowship,John D. Mineck Furniture Fellowship and educational programming in order to promote the work of contemporary craft artists. Prior to moving fully online in 2020, its retail and exhibition galleries featured nearly four hundred craft artists.
After struggling financially following some relocation issues and pandemic closures, the Society announced it would be closing after 127 years.
Exhibitions The following is a list of SA+C's exhibitions since 2012. Exhibition TitleDateNotesExecutive Order 9066, Wendy MaruyamaSeptember 8 - November 3, 2012Our Cups Runneth OverNovember 16, 2012- January 19, 2013BiennialContemporary FolkFebruary 15 - April 13, 2013Rethinking Tradition: Portraits in Glass by Joseph CavalieriApril 26 - July 20, 2013Creative Minds, Disciplined Hands: Selections from the New Hampshire Furniture MastersAugust 3 - October 19, 2013From Minimal to Bling: Contemporary Studio JewelryNovember 1, 2013 - January 11, 2014BiennialFloral Fictions: Recent Work by Jessica CalderwoodJanuary 31, 2014 - April 19, 2014SAC Artists Awards ExhibitionMay 2 - July 19, 2014William Daley: 14 for 7August 2 - October 25, 2014Our Cups Runneth Over: Sculptural & Functional Cups November 8, 2014 – January 10, 2015BiennialCollisions & Collaborations: Kathy King, Kevin Snipes and Brian R. Jones January 30 - April 11, 2015Alchimia: An AnthologyMay 1 - July 11, 2015Stay in Touch: Seven Years of the John D. Mineck Furniture FellowshipAugust 1 - October 17, 2015 From Minimal to Bling: Contemporary Studio JewelryNovember 6, 2015 - January 10, 2016BiennialRadiusOctober - November 2016Opening exhibition at new Seaport District locationOur Cups Runneth OverNovember 2016 - February 2017BiennialI.M.A.G.I.N.E. Peace NowFebruary - June 2017Traveling show in collaboration with artist Boris BallyArchipomorphic: Tim Ian MitchellFebruary - March 2017Artist AwardsJune - October 2017Award recipients: Tanya Crane, Janice Jakielski, Julie MorringelloFantasy Architectures: Jay RogersOctober 2017 - January 2018From Minimal to Bling: Contemporary Studio JewelryNovember 2017 - February 2018All Things Considered IX: Basketry in the 21st CenturyMarch - June 2018Traveling show presented by the National Basketry OrganizationThe Cover Up: Donna Rhae MarderMay - August 2018Infinite Vibration: Niho KozuruJune - September 2018Landscapes, CraftedAugust - October 2018Elizabeth Cohen: Life CycleOctober 2018Adorning Boston + Beyond: Contemporary Studio Jewelry Then + NowNovember 8, 2018 - February 17, 2019In conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts exhibit Boston Made, guest-curated by Heather WhiteOur Cups Runneth OverNovember 8, 2018 - February 17, 2019Biennial, guest-curated by Mary BarringerRebecca Welz: Inner + Outer SpacesFebruary 2019 - March 2019Pulp + ProcessFebruary 21 - April 21, 2019Curated by Sam Aldrich, 2019 Emerging CuratorPeter T. Bennett: The Lure of AluminumMarch 14 - May 5, 2019PRIEDApril 25 - June 30, 2019Guest-curated by Izzy Berdan and Dave J Bermingham, co-founders of the Boston LGBTQIA Artists Alliance Linda Huey: Dark Garden and other worksMay 9 - July 21, 2019
Annual events Every year, the Society of Arts + Crafts hosts two promotional events for local and international artists, CraftBoston SpringCraftBoston Spring and CraftBoston Holiday. CraftBoston is a show of contemporary art, craft and design, and is well known for its advancement of both the arts and craftspeople. These events are held at popular venues and convention halls in Boston biannually.
Publications
Exhibition of the Society of arts & crafts, 1907
External links The Society of Arts and Crafts Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
References