Asheville’s Center for Craft and Etsy Launch $10 Million Craft Catalyst Initiative
Craft is more than a creative pursuit. It is a way of upholding traditions, building community, and telling the stories of the people and places that make communities truly special.
Across Asheville and Western North Carolina, organizations like the Center for Craft have worked to support and resource makers, strengthening the creative communities that surround them and beyond. Now, a new partnership is investing in that work and helping create new opportunities for craft to continue to grow.
The Craft Catalyst Initiative, a $10 million, three-year investment designed to strengthen craft communities across the United States, was announced last week at a launch celebration hosted by the Center for Craft and global online marketplace, Etsy. As part of the initiative’s first round of funding, $2 million will be awarded to 20 nonprofit organizations across five craft hubs, including Asheville and Western North Carolina.
(left to right) Buncombe County Chair Amanda Edwards, Center for Craft Executive Director Stephanie Moore, Toe River Arts Education Manager Bethany Chenoweth, Toe River Arts Executive Director Nealy Andrews, Etsy Senior Director of Impact & Sustainability Chelsea Mozen, and North Carolina State Representative Brian Turner.
Four local organizations will receive $100,000 unrestricted grants to support their continued work, including Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Programs, North Carolina Glass Center, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, and Toe River Arts.
The investment comes at a time when the value of handmade work feels especially meaningful. As technology and artificial intelligence continue to shape the way we live and create, there is an increasing value being placed on the human connection behind the things we make.
“Human connection through craft is more essential than ever,” said Stephanie Moore, Executive Director of the Center for Craft. “This initiative will fortify craft’s place by investing in the spaces, relationships, and infrastructure that encourage artists, sustain creative careers, and strengthen communities across the country.”
For the Center for Craft, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, the partnership represents a continuation of its mission to support artists and promote the future of creating. Founded in Asheville in 1996, the organization has invested over $10 million in grants and fellowships supporting craft artists, researchers, and organizations nationwide.
In addition to providing funding, the Craft Catalyst Initiative will bring participating organizations together through a yearlong partnership that focuses on collaboration, resource sharing, and establishing stronger pathways for makers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ricardo Tejada, Show and Tale Creative
“Thriving craft communities are essential to preserving traditions, fostering creativity, and creating opportunity for makers,” said Chelsea Mozen, Head of Impact & Sustainability at Etsy. “We’re proud to partner with the Center for Craft to invest in the people and organizations that make these creative ecosystems possible.”
This moment marks a rich celebration of what Asheville and the surrounding region have always cherished: the power of creating something by hand and the stories that come with it.
Learn more at https://craftcatalyst.centerforcraft.org/
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