Society for Contemporary Craft facts for kids

Contemporary Craft (CC) is a cool place that shows off amazing art. This art is made using materials like clay, metal, fabric, glass, and wood. Artists from all over the world, the country, and the local area create these pieces.

In 2020, CC moved to a new home in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It used to be called the Society for Contemporary Craft. CC offers art shows, hands-on workshops led by artists, and a store. The store sells unique art objects made by artists from across the United States.

You can visit CC for free! It is open to everyone.

Each year, CC holds three to four main art shows. About 35,000 people visit these shows. CC also has a second gallery, called the Satellite Gallery. It opened in 1990 at One Mellon Center. This gallery is in the Pittsburgh Steel Plaza T-station. It lets many more people, about 100,000, see art while they are downtown.

CC is a nonprofit organization. This means it works to help the community, not to make money. It tries to offer as many free art programs as possible. Besides shows and workshops, CC helps young people, seniors, and those in homeless shelters.

History of Contemporary Craft

Contemporary Craft was started in 1971. A woman named Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael founded it. She believed that modern artists had new ideas to share. She also thought they needed more chances to show and sell their art.

Since it began, CC has put on over 230 art shows. It also opened a second gallery and started collecting art. CC offers many art classes and programs for the community. It also has a store where you can buy art.

Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael's Vision

Elizabeth "Betty" Rockwell Raphael was a very important person in the art world. Many say she changed the art scene in Pittsburgh. Before starting CC in 1971, she opened a small art gallery in 1941. This was Pittsburgh's first modern art gallery.

She brought a fresh way of looking at art to the city. She created one of the only groups 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. They were recognized for their "cutting-edge exhibitions." These shows focused on different cultures and unique art. They also offered many classes and community programs.

In 2018, CC received the Award of Distinction. This award came from the American Craft Council. It honors groups or people who have greatly helped the field of craft. They must have worked for at least 25 years. Contemporary Craft was the first group in Pittsburgh, PA, to get this special award.