Conference Announcements & Roll Call!

We’ve got two fun announcements this week related to the National Arts & Crafts Conference coming up February 20th-22nd at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC.

First off, Small Group Discussions! What began as a handful of off shoot, round table talks of just a few close friends has, over the last 28 years, grown into a staple for the National Arts & Crafts Conference. This is the one time a year where thousands of collectors, enthusiasts, dealers, craftspeople and historians from all across the country, gather around their common thread — The Arts and Crafts movement. This year is no exception.

Every year we select over twenty volunteers to lead discussions throughout the weekend ranging from collecting Art Pottery to designing your bungalow kitchen and everything in between. We’re happy to announce the following Small Group Discussions that attendees can look forward to choosing from!

Help For New Art Pottery Collectors with Allan Wunsch.

Finding the ‘Art’ in Arts and Crafts with Steve Thomas.

Collecting J.M. Young Furniture with N. Gordon Gray.

Edward Curtis and Early Arts and Crafts Photography with Paul Unks.

New Collectors Only with Michael McCracken.

Appreciating A & C Metalware with Darcy Evon.

The Arts & Crafts Movement: What Have We Learned — and Where Are We Headed? with Andre Chaves and Dianne Ayres.

Appreciating Arts & Crafts Leather with Jessica Greenway.

Problems – and Solutions – In Restoring Your Arts & Crafts House with Gary Haynes & Jim McCord.

Furniture.101 – A Walking Tour of the Grove Park Inn’s Collection with Jill Thomas Clark.

Astonishing Women of the A&C Movement with Pat Bartinique.

The Politics of Preservation with Curt Maranto

Advice for New Furniture Collectors with Ralph Milner and Rick Taylor.

Remuddling, Remodeling or Restoration — And the Price Tags for Each with Norman Blankenship.

Let’s Talk Art Pottery with Patti Bourgeois.

So, What Is the A&C Philosophy? with Pat Bartinique.

Remembering Kitty Turgeon with Kathie Aspaas.

Appreciating Woodblock Prints with Joby Patterson.

Charles Limbert Furniture with David Van Epps.

“Mr. Stickley’s Craftsman Homes” with Ray Stubblebine representing The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms In conjunction with the museum’s Display case exhibit, which will be in the Great Hall.

“Arts and Crafts In the South” with Lynne Poirier-Wilson at the Biltmore Industries Museum on the grounds of the Grove Park Inn.

Another fantastic line up! And the best part? All of the Discussion Leaders are volunteers who are just as excited as you are about the Arts & Crafts Movement and Revival.

The second announcement? We have over 130 Exhibitors this year — exciting for a Conference that began 28 years ago with a couple hundred attendees and just antiques exhibitors! Now, in 2015, Contemporary Craftsfirms and Artists, Antiques Dealers, Architects, Book Sellers, Magazines, Museums and Non-Profits make up our total and we’re proud to be partnering with each and every one of them. Visit the complete listing of Contemporary Exhibitors here, Antiques Exhibitors here and Books, Magazines & More Exhibitors here!

If you haven’t registered as a Conference Attendee yet, there’s still plenty of time to do so. There are also a handful of rooms left at the Grove Park Inn so don’t delay! Call 828.252.2711 to make your room reservation today. Or, if you’re staying elsewhere and would like a full Conference Weekend Pass, call our offices at 828.628.1915!

Stay tuned here at ArtsAndCraftsCollector.com, Arts-CraftsConference.com and our Facebook Page for details leading up to the Conference. We’re looking forward to seeing you all soon!