Society for Contemporary Craft facts for kids

Contemporary Craft (CC) is a cool place where you can see amazing contemporary art. This art is made using special materials like ceramics, metal, fabric, glass, and wood. Artists from all over the world, the country, and even nearby show their work here.

In 2020, CC moved to its new home on Butler Street. It's in the Lawrenceville area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

At CC, you can explore art shows that celebrate different cultures and talk about fairness. You can also join fun, hands-on workshops led by artists. There's even a store where you can buy unique art made by artists from across the U.S. The best part? CC is free to visit and open to everyone!

What You Can See at CC

Every year, CC shows three or four exciting art exhibits in its main gallery. About 35,000 people come to see these shows!

CC also has another gallery called the Satellite Gallery. It opened in 1990 at One Mellon Center. This second gallery is inside the Pittsburgh Steel Plaza T-station. It lets people who work downtown enjoy art easily. About 100,000 people visit this gallery each year.

Helping the Community

CC is a non-profit organization. This means it works to bring art to the community, not to make money. It tries to offer as many free art programs as possible.

Besides its exhibits and workshops, CC also helps people in the community. It works with young people who might be struggling. It also reaches out to seniors living in assisted living homes. And it helps people staying in homeless shelters.

History of Contemporary Craft

How CC Started

Contemporary Craft was started in 1971. A woman named Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael founded it. She believed that modern artists could create new things with traditional materials. She also thought these artists needed more chances to show and sell their work.

Since then, CC has put on more than 230 art shows. It also opened a second gallery and started a permanent art collection. CC offers many art classes and community programs. It also has a store where you can buy handcrafted art.

Elizabeth Raphael's Vision

Elizabeth “Betty” Rockwell Raphael was a very important person in the art world. Many people say she was one of the most groundbreaking women in the arts. She was the first to change the art scene in Pittsburgh.

Before starting CC in 1971, Raphael opened a small art gallery in 1941. This was the first modern art gallery Pittsburgh had ever seen. She brought a new way of looking at art to the city. She also created one of the only organizations in the country that focuses only on craft art.

Awards and Recognition

In 2010, CC was named a "Champion in Action." This award was given by Citizens Bank and WPXI-TV. CC received a $25,000 grant. Ralph J. Papa, who was in charge of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, said CC was honored for "offering cutting-edge exhibitions focused on multicultural diversity and non-mainstream art, as well as a range of classes and community outreach programs."

In 2018, CC received the Award of Distinction from the American Craft Council. This award honors an organization or person who has greatly helped the field of craft. They must have worked for at least 25 years. CC was the first organization in Pittsburgh, PA, to receive this special award.