The 31st National Arts and Crafts Conference

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The wait is over! The 31st National Arts and Crafts Conference returns this weekend to Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn.

The New York Times calls it “the most important weekend of the year for arts and crafts collectors.” This three-day event, taking place Feb. 16-18, celebrates the Arts and Crafts era (1895-1939). New works in the Arts and Crafts style will be display by more than one hundred exhibitors at the Omni Grove Park Inn. The daily afternoon shows are open to the public with free outdoor parking. Thousands of people are expected to attend, so don’t miss this incredible opportunity.

Unfamiliar with the Arts and Crafts movement? It was an international movement in the decorative and fine arts that began in Britain and flourished in Europe and North America between about 1880 and 1920, emerging in Japan (the Mingei movement) in the 1920s. It stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms, and often used medieval, romantic, or folk styles of decoration. It advocated economic and social reform and was essentially anti-industrial. It had a strong influence on the arts in Europe until it was displaced by Modernism in the 1930s, and its influence continued among craft makers, designers, and town planners long afterwards.

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Since 1913 the Omni Grove Park Inn has been known as the mecca for Arts and Crafts enthuiasts. And since 1988 the Arts and Crafts Conference has been educating and entertaining Arts and Crafts enthusiasts at every level — from beginning collectors and bungalow owners to experienced auction and show veterans.

The shows are open to the public and take place from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Saturday, February 16th; 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday, February 17th; and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 18th. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Outdoor parking is free, as well as for up to three hours in the hotel garages.

Schedules, ticketing, and additional information for the conference can be found at www.arts-craftsconference.com. We hope to see you there!

(Copy partially provided by Wikipedia.)