Plans for the 35th National Arts and Crafts Conference
As local and national media monitors information regarding Covid-19 and the emerging Omicron variant, the 35th National Arts and Crafts Conference at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn continues to be scheduled as an in-person event. If it becomes apparent, however, that a safe and successful conference and shows cannot be held in February, a contingency plan is also being developed to allow for a smooth transition from an in-person to an online conference.
This week the Pre-Conference Information Packets are being mailed to individuals who have registered for the February 18-20 National Arts and Crafts Conference either through the Omni Grove Park Inn (800-438-5800) for their Arts and Crafts Weekend Package or by reserving a Conference Events Only pass through the conference office (828-628-1915). Information on all conference options is detailed at Arts-CraftsConference.com.
Roycroft historian Robert Rust will be joining the highly-regarded list of seminar speakers to present his research into little-known Stickley and Roycroft designer Victor Toothaker. The itinerant Toothaker demonstrated the wide range of his capabilities during his brief tenure at the Roycroft campus from 1912-1915. He appears to have taken charge of both the Roycroft Furniture Shop and the Roycroft Copper Shop in 1912, just as both were nearly overwhelmed with the massive order for the Grove Park Inn. Under Toothaker’s direction, the Roycrofters provided the Grove Park Inn with hundreds of ceiling lights and table lamps, as well as the famed “GPI” dining chairs, eight-foot clock, sideboards, and corner servers for the hotel’s restaurant.
In addition to the line-up of seminar speakers, the conference will again feature popular small group discussions, demonstrations, and tours of the historic Grove Park Inn and the neighboring Grovewood Village, home of the Biltmore Industries since 1917.
Covid-related developments over the next few weeks will be critical in deciding the final plans for the beloved conference. The conference will abide by any mandates set by the state of North Carolina, Buncombe County, and the Omni Grove Park Inn.
The office of the National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows thanks everyone for their patience and understanding of this uncertain nature. Updates will continue to be posted at Arts-CraftsConference.com. In the meantime, the office requests that registrants continue to plan for the in-person conference when the Pre-Conference Information Packet is received and to still continue to send in the important Name Badge form.