Residential craft schools provide intensive workshops led by prominent craftspeople covering a range of contemporary and traditional craft practices. Located across the country in dynamic urban and rural settings, they include Penland School of Craft and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts nationally, and Pittsburgh Glass Center and Touchstone Center for Crafts regionally.
Outside of formal art, design, or craft courses in university and/or college programs, workshops at residential craft schools offer the most in-depth and high-quality learning experiences available to emerging creatives. The technical skills and field insights gained at workshops often accelerate the career trajectory and/or business growth of the participating creatives.
Unfortunately, there are often barriers to participation for Black creatives. These barriers might include the high cost associated with attending workshops (travel, lodging, materials, and accommodation expenses), and the perception that residential craft schools exist within “white spaces” unwelcoming or unsympathetic to Black creative experiences. As a result, Black creatives can be isolated from the exceptional education value of the workshop content, as well as the restorative nature of the workshop experience.
