Maine Crafts Association

10/07/2026

10/06/2026

DEADLINE APPROACHING! ⏰ Nominate a craft artist for the Maine Craft Artist Award

Nominations are due October 13. Now is the time to nominate a deserving recipient.

Maine Crafts Association is seeking nominations for the 2026 Maine Craft Artist Award, which will recognize one exceptional craft artist with a $10,000 honorarium.

Since 2009, this award has celebrated artists whose work, careers, and contributions have made a lasting impact on the craft field in Maine.

An appointed juror will select the 2026 recipient based on excellence in craftsmanship, inspired design, a singular artistic voice, professional practice, and dedicated service to the field.

2026 Award Benefits

- $10,000 honorarium
- A lifetime MCA Professional membership
- Custom artist-made award pin designed to reflect the honoree
- Custom artist-made award certificate
- Recognition at the annual award presentation
- Special press release and website feature
- Solo exhibition at the Center for Maine Craft
- Invitation to teach at MCA’s Weekend Workshop at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
- Invitation to exhibit at any scheduled Guild Fine Craft Shows
- Inclusion in anniversary exhibitions

Peer and self-nominations are welcome. All artists nominated since 2018 will automatically be considered. While previously nominated artists will be considered, MCA strongly encourages submitting new application materials to support the nomination.

Help the juror understand the full impact of the nominee’s work and career. Strong nominations may highlight their studio practice and body of work, artistic excellence and voice, impact on craft in Maine, professional accomplishments, exhibitions, philosophy, and service to the craft community.

Supporting materials may include images, resumes, portfolios, exhibition records, publications, and other documentation.

Follow the link in our bio to learn more and to nominate.

Image: 2023 award pin created by j.e. paterak

10/06/2026

Some sweet moments from the Craft Apprentice Program Capstone Exhibition opening last Friday at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. Thank you Maine Arts Commission for capturing these shots!

You can visit Watershed and view the exhibition at 103 Cochran Road, Edgecomb, ME 04556. The Barkan Gallery at Watershed will be open Monday – Friday, 1:30pm – 5:00pm through Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

10/05/2026

In Remembrance: Carolyn Ann Hecker

The Maine Crafts Association remembers Carolyn Ann Hecker, MCA’s founding Executive Director. Her vision and profound, ongoing dedication to championing Maine’s craft community created the MCA, which has endured for forty-three years. Carolyn’s work has left a lasting legacy for which we are forever grateful.

“It would be safe to say that were it not for Carolyn Hecker, Maine Crafts Association wouldn’t exist. When she married metalsmith Ronald Hayes Pearson and moved from Washington, D.C., to Deer Isle in the early 1980s, she recognized the skill and resourcefulness of the crafts community in Maine and the need to create a statewide organization that could serve and unite Maine’s makers.

Carolyn was tenacious and tireless in ensuring that crafts had a voice in the state’s cultural community, and worked to help craft makers develop their professional skills. She created the workshop weekend at Haystack, connecting MCA and Haystack in a partnership that continues today.

And she was a leader in promoting the aesthetic importance of craft and its legacy in the state. In 1987, Carolyn worked with the Portland Museum of Art on an exhibit, Ten, which was installed in the main gallery of the Charles Shipman Payson building. It featured ten craft makers from Maine. I remember the experience of walking into that gallery. It was a stunning show and made it clear that craft in Maine could be on an equal footing with all the work in the museum. That wouldn’t have happened without Carolyn. She always saw to it that craft was center stage.” – Stuart Kestenbaum

Our thoughts are with Carolyn’s loved ones, who have graciously asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Maine Crafts Association or to the Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter in her memory.

10/04/2026

It’s day two of Maine Craft Weekend, and there’s still more to discover statewide!🧡Explore open studios, craft shows, demonstrations, pop-ups, workshops, and so much more. Get out there to meet the artists, discover something new, and experience Maine craft firsthand.

Find the events map at mainecraftweekend.org

Check out a few more event highlights!

🧣Felting by Wayne Myers - Discuss the process of Nuno Felting with artist Wayne Myers. Wayne will be set up with weaver Sara Hotchkiss and will have felted shawls and other items to enjoy. - Waldoboro, ME

🟦 Tandem Glass - dippermouthco, Rebecca May Verrill, Dave Buechner (beak-ner), Lisa & Scott Cylinder, Ember Grove and Mallory Waldman are all set up at Tandem Glass in a salon-style pop-up event. - Dresden, ME

🖼️ Farmstead Artists Pop Up - Explore a weekend pop-up inside an old sail loft dating back to 1803. Member artists will have demonstrations and work for sale. - East Sullivan, ME

⚒️ pamela frances bosco ("ela") - Visit this rustic jewelry studio overlooking an apple orchard. Besides the handmade jewelry, there will be jewelry-making tools for sale.- Walpole, ME

🏺Milly Welsh - Join Zwellyn Pottery and friends at their pop-up and bake sale. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Limington Food Bank. Enjoy a treat and try for yourself throwing on a pottery wheel. - Limington, ME

10/03/2026

It’s day ONE of Maine Craft Weekend! ⚒️🪡✂️ Hooray to a full weekend celebrating craftsmanship, community, and creativity.

🗺️ Not sure where to start? Follow the Maine Craft Weekend link in our bio to check out the events map and find events near you, or plan a day of exploring somewhere new.

Here are a few more event highlights ✨

Resek Clay Studio - Join the artist at his home studio, where he primarily creates functional stoneware decorated using the sgraffito technique. See works in progress at every stage, from raw clay to carved greenware to finished, glazed pieces, and learn the process step by step. - Camden, ME

Maine Artisans Collective - Throughout the weekend, visitors can watch these artisans at work, ask questions about their processes, and watch demonstrations in polymer clay, stained glass mosaic, heat patina, and more. - Lincolnville, ME

Marty Kremer - Visit the working fused glass studio of Martin Kremer. During this annual sale, there will be deals on his colorful glass plates, bowls, sculptures, and ornaments. - North Yarmouth, ME

Vivian Pyle - Open Studio and Sale at VKP Studio, a one-person pottery studio with mostly porcelain dishes and lamps in fun glaze combinations. - Surry, ME

Diana Thomas - Explore the new pottery and sewing studio of Diana Thomas nestled in the woods of western Maine. Find functional pottery, ceramic boxes, handcrafted bags, and Eko-banz sports accessories all created by hand. - Madrid Township

Handmade Papers Gallery - Join artist Virginia Sarsfield at her studio and gallery and peruse her specialty: handmade papers and lampshades. - Brooklin, ME

10/01/2026

M J Bronstein Open Studio

Find unique painterly, sculptural ceramics in a reconstructed barn studio just 3 miles from Penobscot Bay and the beautiful town of Belfast. A ceramic artist, painter and photographer, Marcie’s work has been exhibited, published, and commissioned for more than three decades.

39 Homestead Close, Belfast, ME 04915
Open hours: Saturday 10-5 & Sunday 11-4

marciejbronstein.com

10/01/2026

The signs are out! Look for these orange Maine Craft Weekend yard signs across Maine this Saturday and Sunday, October 3 + 4, 2026. Ellsworth, Maine is a 2026 Featured City - check out their full roster of events here: https://mainecraftweekend.org/featured-city-ellsworth

Heart of Ellsworth

Art of Ellsworth: Maine Craft Weekend is here! For the next FOUR days, downtown and beyond are filled with events celebrating local creativity! Look for Maine Craft Weekend yard signs at each event location and see where the weekend takes you 📍

Explore the full lineup and plan your stops: www.heartofellsworth.org/artofellsworth

10/01/2026

Visit Puzzle Mountain Glassworks in Newry, Maine during Maine Craft Weekend! https://mainecraftweekend.org/map?listing=art-market-at-puzzle-mountain-glassworks-214002

10/01/2026

This weekend, discover a special little corner of Blue Hill! The Farmstead Artists are bringing a pop-up show of paintings and pottery to a charming old sail loft near the bay at 28 Water Street in Blue Hill, ME. Open Saturday & Sunday from 10-4 during Maine Craft Weekend.

Come for the art, stay awhile, explore Blue Hill, and enjoy a lovely fall weekend by the bay.

Img: Mini painting by Suzanne Becque