Tennessee Receives Four Star Awards by American Craft Week
Four Tennessee Craft Week Participants Honored with National Award
From Laurie Davis, TN Craft –
American Craft Week announced the 2018 Star Award Winners and Tennessee Craft is pleased to share that four Tennessee Craft Week (TCW) events garnered a STAR AWARD. This is the fourth consecutive year TCW has been honored with multiple awards. Nashville Media Personality Demetria Kalodimos presided as the Honorary Chairman of the 2018 Tennessee Craft Week.
TOP TCW Participants Honored with the American Craft Week National Star Award include:
Most Innovative Event: Check-Out InFlux, Borrowing Bowls, Nashville, TN
This novel interactive concept invited the public to “check out” bowls from the Green Hills Public Library to enjoy a piece of art in their homes. (Bowls created by InFlux clay artists and Tennessee Craft members Julia Whitney Brown, Jenn Cole, Caroline Cercone, Audry Deal-McEver and David Taylor, as well as local clay artist John Donovan.)
Outstanding Family Event: Firefly Artisan Fair, Artist Demonstrations, Nashville, TN
Artist demonstrations were an outstanding feature of this incomparable night market celebrating the Nashville arts community. Art has the power to illuminate, transform,educate, inspire and motivate, and guests enjoyed numerous interactive activities and a unique shopping experience under the stars.
Exceptional Support from the Public Sector: Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Supporting TCW with an annual sponsorship of $12,500, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development supports craft artist demonstrations across the state at each of the 15 Welcome Centers. The Welcome Centers offer interactive craft demonstrations and display and distribute TCW brochures so tourists and residents can take advantage of more than 75 events happening across the state each October.
Best Collaborating Artist Event: Great Smoky Arts & Craft Community, Do the Loop and Learn A Craft, Gatlinburg, TN
The “Hands On Gatlinburg” event offered a plethora of classes in pottery, glass, weaving, painting, marbling and woodworking for the public to make and take home a traditional craft piece, assisted by professional craft artists. This event collaborated with “Visit Gatlinburg” who provided the public easy access, seamless web support and event listings via https://www.gatlinburg.com.
Held in conjunction with the annual American Craft Week, TCW is a collection of craft events and happenings designed to connect and celebrate craft artists, the work they create and the businesses that support them. Seventy-seven craft-based events across the state celebrated and promoted the Made in Tennessee impact driven by the craft culture – in our communities, economy and quality of life.
###
About: Tennessee Craft is a member-driven nonprofit arts organization dedicated to creating opportunities for Tennessee’s independent craft artists to thrive. Since 1965, Tennessee Craft has been the only networked community of craft artists across the state, with local chapters and regional opportunities for talent growth, professional development, and one-of-a-kind exhibitions.
Supported by: TCW is a program of Tennessee Craft. Funding for TCW generously provided by Metro Nashville Arts Commission, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
