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February Issue 2004
NC Governor Mike Easley Proclaims 2004-2005 Celebration of NC Craft
NC Governor Mike Easley has proclaimed 2004-2005 as a Celebration of North Carolina Craft, kicking off a two-year statewide celebration of Tar Heel craft tradition, artisans and their products.
The observance includes the 75th anniversaries of Penland School of Crafts in Mitchell County and the Southern Highland Craft Guild on the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as the grand opening of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum on Harkers Island, the re-opening of Piedmont Craftsmen in Winston-Salem, and special exhibits at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte and other venues.
"I urge our citizens to discover and participate in the wide variety of creative expression through craft available to them in our urban centers and rural communities," said Gov. Easley. "North Carolina crafts, which range from contemporary to traditional to new interpretations of traditional work, are known around the world for their quality. And North Carolina crafts help make vibrant communities."
Craft is big business in North Carolina. It provides jobs for 6,100 North Carolina people and brings $538 million into state coffers each year, ranking the state No. 3 in craft income - behind only California and New York. North Carolina was recently listed among the "Top 10" states for cultural and heritage travel by the Travel Industry Association of America and Smithsonian magazine.
The Celebration of North Carolina Craft is sponsored by the NC Craft Coalition, comprising 19 craft organizations banding together to promote North Carolina as a cultural tourism destination. Many of the Coalition organizations are based in rural counties that don't see much of the tourism traffic that North Carolina attracts.
During the celebration, North Carolinians should take the opportunity to explore the craft offerings in their community, said NC Department of Cultural Resources Secretary Lisbeth Evans. "In any region of North Carolina, you can visit artist studios, peruse stunning exhibits, enjoy hands-on learning in a class or workshop - and have the time of your life shopping for beautiful objects you will always cherish. You can visit galleries, museums, and festivals and the craftspeople who put their hearts - not just their hands - into their work. Craft feeds the soul - and thousands of North Carolina families in all corners of our state."
For further info check the website (www.discovercraftnc.org).
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