The Craft-Based Education Grant is a grant from the Center for Craft that funds mid-career teaching artists to develop lasting, accessible educational resources that document and advance craft practices. Since 2023, the program has awarded 70 teaching artists grants of $10,000 each, along with a six-month cohort experience that provides mentorship, peer support, and professional development.

Grantees work to document, develop, or improve craft curricula and teaching tools with guidance from a mentor. The grant encourages innovation and resource sharing within the teaching artist community and aims to catalyze craft communities through the creation and dissemination of craft education tools. Applications are accepted on a rolling cohort basis.

Craft-Based Education Grant Congratulations to the 2020 Craft Research Fund Artist Fellows! View recipients Read Press release Building a future for craft. | Building a future for craft.

Building a future for craft. Get Space Support Menu Menu | Building a future for craft. Building a future for craft.

Get Space Support Menu Menu Building a future for craft. Artspace–Keep AVL Creative Broadway Cultural Gateway Windgate-Lamar Fellowship Craft Research Fund Artist Fellowship Craft-Based Education Grant Craft Education Fellowship Virginia A.

Groot Material Exploration Residency Craft Research Fund Grant Materials Research Fellowship Master of Arts in Craft Studies Windgate Research Curator Craft Research Fund 20th Anniversary Craft and Community Vitality | Building a future for craft Building a future for craft.

Craft-Based Education Grant Twelve previous Teaching Artist Cohort awardees will each receive $5,000 to document, develop, or improve teaching tools with support from a mentor. Grant application is closed. 2024 Teaching Artist Cohort grantee Kenya Miles teaches natural dye techniques to members of the African American Quilters of Baltimore, 2020.

Photo credit: Kenya Miles. The Center for Craft’s new Craft-Based Education Grants support the creation of lasting, accessible educational resources that document and advance craft practices. To provide mid-career teaching artists with mentorship, financial assistance, and peer support to develop artist-designed craft curricula and documentation.

To encourage innovation and resource sharing within the community of teaching artists. To catalyze craft communities through the creation and dissemination of tools and resources for teaching craft.

Craft-Based Education Grant Since 2023, the Center for Craft has awarded 70 mid-career craft artists who teach a $10,000 grant and the opportunity to participate in a six-month cohort experience supporting their artistic and teaching career development. While developing a national network of teaching craft artists, the program is also meant to create an enriching impact on the communities with which these artists engage.

The Craft-Based Education Grants—available to all previous Teaching Artist Cohort awardees—will support the creation of lasting educational resources that document and carry forward craft practices and that encourage the creation of more accessible and impactful teaching tools. Twelve previous Teaching Artist Cohort awardees will each receive $5,000 and be matched with a mentor to document, develop, or improve teaching tools.

Grantees will also have the opportunity to cultivate community via a monthly virtual cohort convening. At the end of the six-month grant period, awardees will share resources at a virtual public program hosted by the Center for Craft and through the Center’s website.

‍ Valuing the wisdom embedded in craft traditions and ensuring its continuation ‍ Adapting teaching methods for contemporary learning contexts ‍ Honoring teaching artists as bearers of cultural heritage and wisdom ‍ Creating resources that reach diverse audiences across barriers ‍ Filmed demonstrations or archives of craft processes and instruction techniques ‍ Complete lesson plan series focused on targeted themes ‍ Physical or digital resources for teaching artists to utilize ‍ Inclusive Learning Materials ‍ Creation of multilingual or age-appropriate workbooks or curricula to expand reach ‍ Other Educational Resources ‍ Development of other resources of an educational purpose aligned with the principles and goals of this grant View most recent recipients Application Information Session Proposals are welcome from 2023, 2024, and 2025 Teaching Artist Cohort grant recipients.

This funding opportunity is dedicated to supporting artists who have already demonstrated their commitment to advancing craft education and practice through their participation in the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort program.

Applicants must be in good standing with the Center for Craft and the Teaching Artist Cohort program at the time of application and must apply as individuals; collaborative groups or organizations are not eligible. Awardees are expected to commit fully to the six-month expedited project timeline.

Proposals should outline a project or initiative that connects directly to both the applicant’s artistic and teaching practices in craft while demonstrating the potential for meaningful community impact. By limiting eligibility to this group, the Craft-Based Education Grant acknowledges the dedication, innovation, and leadership of these mid-career craft artists who teach.

This opportunity further invests in their ability to expand their impact, sustain their practices, and contribute meaningfully to the field of craft and education. The Center defines a teaching artist as a practicing craft artist and/or maker who utilizes their skill sets and sensibilities to integrate their work and perspectives into a wide range of settings. ‍ Artists working in tenured or tenure-track positions may not apply.

Funding for the Craft-Based Education Grants is geared toward artists and/or makers whose practice includes community engagement, museum education, and experience as adjunct faculty, workshop facilitator/instructors, visiting artists, community college instructors, and/or lecturers. EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERABLES ‍ Over the six-month timeline, applicants are expected to complete their full project.

At the conclusion of the grant period, recipients will provide a brief written report, participate in an interview with Center for Craft staff, and present the resource or tool created during a virtual public program hosted by the Center for Craft. To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following criteria: Be a previous Teaching Artist Cohort awardee. Be 21 years of age or older.

Be eligible to receive taxable income in the United States. Have resided and worked in the U.S. for at least the past two years and for the full duration of the grant period. Have maintained a studio practice for a minimum of five years.

Have worked as a teaching artist for a minimum of three years. Be in good standing with the Center for Craft and the Teaching Artist Cohort program at the time of application. Apply as individuals (collaborative groups or organizations are not eligible).

Propose a project or initiative that connects directly to both their artistic and teaching practices in craft. Demonstrate the potential for meaningful community impact through their proposed project. Submit a proposal that is timely and demonstrates readiness to benefit from this opportunity.

Tenured faculty at a college or university Tenure-track position at a college or university Collectives, groups, partnerships Disqualified persons, such as substantial contributors to the Center for Craft, as well as current employees, consultants, or board members of the Center for Craft, or immediate family members of such a person The Center for Craft prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or perceived disability, age, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected category.

The Center encourages applications from historically underrepresented populations. Applying does not constitute a promise or guarantee of being awarded a grant. REQUIREMENTS OF CRAFT-BASED EDUCATION GRANT AWARDEES The initial 70% of funds will be awarded upon completion of the grant agreement and receipt of the awardee’s W9.

The final 30% of the grant will be awarded upon completion of the grant cycle and an evaluation interview. Recipients must acknowledge support from the Center for Craft by: adding the Center for Craft logo and the following credit line to the creation of any work, projects, resources, or materials (etc.) resulting from the grant: “This project was supported by Center for Craft through the Craft-Based Education Grant.

” Recipients agree to present their completed project during a virtual public program hosted by the Center for Craft. Recipients agree to conduct a follow-up interview and final report about their experience before the end of the grant period. The adjudication process will take place virtually.

Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Craft staff for completeness, then evaluated by a selection panel via the SlideRoom online application review portal. The panel will consist of 3-4 people recognized as craft-informed experts working across sectors, such as writers, educators, artists, curators, and creative catalysts, to provide valuable insight into the grant-making process.

Panelists free of any conflict of interest will evaluate the applications based on the following criteria: Project Relevance and Impact Does it clearly connect artistic practice with teaching practice in craft? Will it create meaningful educational or community impact? Feasibility and Readiness Is the project realistic within the six-month timeline?

Does the applicant demonstrate readiness, clarity of goals, and the ability to follow through with the proposed activities? Are the outcomes (report, interview, documentation) achievable and measurable utilizing the resources of this grant award of $5,000? Artistic and Educational Excellence ‍ Does the proposed project reflect strong artistic merit and innovation?

Does the applicant reflect a clear plan for expounding and expanding the reach of their craft and teaching artist practice? Is there evidence that the project contributes to the advancement of craft-based education in the field? Considerations in final selection: The Center for Craft respects, values, and celebrates the unique attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person who they are.

We foster open communication among diverse perspectives and bring together a broad range of individuals to enrich and support programming. Ultimately, we will ask the Selection Panel to compose a set of recipients that prioritizes diversity and represents a range of geographies, materials, practices, and types of artist-educators. Priority will be given to applicants who received a Center for Craft grant.

Applicants must apply using the online application program SlideRoom at https://review. slideroom. com/#/program/86834/overview no later than 11:59 ET on February 16, 2026.

Applicants will not be required to pay an application fee. Please review the sample application below before beginning your application. All applicants should create a login to partially complete the form and return later to finish it.

Before submitting your application, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you can review your form and return to edit or delete your uploaded files as needed. Your application can not be accessed once submitted. Applicants will receive a confirmation email once the application form has been successfully submitted.

Notification of application status will be sent via email before the end of March 2026 . The email address listed on the application form will be used to send out notifications. Please be sure it is a valid email address that you check regularly.

Link to online portfolio or artist website Are you able to receive income in the United States or U.S. territories taxable by the United States or U.S. territories for the duration of the grant period? Have you lived and worked in the United States for the previous two years and for the duration of the grant period? How long have you worked as a teaching artist?

If you currently work for a school, organization, or community space, what is your position (select all that apply): Please identify your primary teaching method. If you currently teach in a variety of ways, please select all that apply or select “other” and list the types of teaching you engage with. Which of the following project types best aligns with your proposal?

(Check all that apply): Filmed demonstrations or archives of craft processes and instruction techniques Complete lesson plan series focused on targeted themes Physical or digital resources for teaching artists to utilize Inclusive Learning Materials Creation of multilingual or age-appropriate workbooks or curricula to expand reach Center for Craft will match each awardee with a mentor unless awardee has a specific mentor in mind.

Please indicate here if you have a mentor in mind for this project. The Center for Craft will contact this individual and coordinate the details of the mentorship arrangement. Describe the project you plan to pursue with support from the Craft-Based Education Grant.

(500 words maximum) How does your project expand upon one or more of the following grant guiding principles (250 words maximum): Knowledge Preservation: Valuing the wisdom embedded in craft traditions and ensuring its continuation.

Innovation: Adapting traditional teaching methods for contemporary learning contexts Cultural Stewardship: Honoring teaching artists as bearers of cultural heritage and wisdom Accessibility: Creating resources that reach diverse audiences across barriers Who will benefit from your project and how? (250 words maximum) What is your Project Budget? Provide a maximum of 10 budget line-items to itemize your expenses and related costs.

What is your Project Timeline? Provide a maximum of 10 project milestones that detail your most important activities and target dates. OPTIONAL: Attach one document of supporting materials.

This can be an image, a diagram, a letter of support from a mentor or other contributor. You may provide any single-page document you think will contribute to the quality and clarity of your application. External media from YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud If you choose to include a video link, please note that during the review process only the first 2 minutes of the sample will be viewed.

Please edit your materials accordingly ‍ Please note that the demographic survey data will only be used anonymously. Your participation in this survey helps us and our local and national funders understand who the Center for Craft is reaching so that we can continue to develop equitable and accessible programming. Completion of this survey will in no way affect your application.

We require all applicants to complete this form; however, you may answer each question with the “I prefer not to answer” option. If I receive a grant, will I need to pay taxes on my award? Yes, all cash funding is taxable income.

May I mail a hard copy of my application materials to the Center for Craft office? No, hard copy submissions will not be accepted. The application must be completed and submitted through SlideRoom.

Can I work on my application and return to complete it later? Yes, creating a login account will enable you to complete the form in several online sessions. I just submitted my application, but I want to go back and make an edit.

Is this possible? No, once your application is submitted, you will not be able to return to the form or change any submitted information. I previously received a Center for Craft grant but did not complete the project, or I am still in the process of completing it—am I eligible to apply?

I received a 2023, 2024, or 2025 Teaching Artist Cohort Grant. Am I eligible to apply? I did NOT receive a 2023, 2024, or 2025 Teaching Artist Cohort Grant.

Am I eligible to apply? I am a student. Am I eligible to apply?

Are art collectives eligible to apply? Whom may I contact with questions? Craft Education Fellow Leia Lewis This program is funded, in part, by the Windgate Foundation.

Community Foundation of WNC The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is a trusted partner in philanthropy. We help donors and nonprofits achieve their charitable goals, now and forever. We are building a future for craft.

We serve makers, museums, academics, and the local community by investing in creative placekeeping and field building . To learn more, please download Craft Matters , the Center for Craft’s strategic direction for 2023-2027. Let us know what you're interested in: General Center for Craft eNews First Name Last Name Email Address Thank you!

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67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft. org Gallery Hours: Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm Get more info >> Center for Craft is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft.

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