MCA Institutional Members are craft related institutions, industries, business and organizations such as: craft galleries, craft retailers, craft suppliers, craft services, nonprofit organizations, schools and other businesses and institutions working with craft artists. Institutional members support the MCA’s efforts and programming while receiving valuable and tangible benefits of being linked with the MCA.
Cornerstones
CORNERSTONES EXCHANGE FUNDING AND COMMITMENT FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAINE CRAFTS ASSOCIATION AND OUR VALUES: CRAFTSMANSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, TRADITION & INGENUITY
We create alignment and build connections by linking Cornerstones to our 600+ members, 11,000+ mailing list and social media connections, 250,000+ in-person engagements and through co-branded marketing.
Hay Runner
Hay Runner is a real estate service company dedicated to simplifying the sales and property improvement processes.
We are a company of problem solvers. We like to make and do things well.
Founded on the belief that we connect through experience and the environment we occupy and share, we are, in part, where we are… in MAINE.
Finally, we believe that good design leads all important change, and it cannot be done alone. We support these changes and transitions with a circle of creatives and problem solvers.
Woodhull
Woodhull is a team of award-winning architects, designers, and builders based in Maine.
We specialize in custom design and build services for new homes, renovations, additions, and commercial projects. We are experts in navigating challenging waterfront properties and historic renovations.
Our work is informed by our home base in Maine, with a focus on the landscape, intentional materials, simplicity of expression, and timeless character.
Patron Institutions
Tinkering and Gizmology @ Breakwater School
Located in Portland, Maine, Breakwater Learning is made up of three exemplary programs – our toddler – 8th grade progressive Day School, Enrichment Center, and Parent Education and Professional Development program. All three are guided by our mission to engage students in optimal learning experiences which inspire them to live well on the planet, embrace their whole being, and realize their full potential. The Tinkering program at Breakwater provides a habitat for children to learn with their hands and work out the nature of their creative agency using real tools and real materials. Experimental, messy, profound, and irreverent, learning through tinkering fosters direct, proactive engagement with the material world and material culture.
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
Our woodworking school offers courses in furniture making
and related skills such as carving, turning, marquetry and finishing.
The mission of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship is to provide the best possible education for people who want to design and build functional, beautiful, and expressive work out of wood to the highest standard of craftsmanship. At the heart of the Center’s mission is the belief that design and craftsmanship are deeply meaningful expressions of the human spirit. They contribute to individual fulfillment and inform the larger culture.
Our programs are for novice, intermediate, and advanced woodworkers who seek an inspiring learning experience in a supportive environment.
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts is an international craft school located on the Atlantic Ocean in Deer Isle, Maine. Founded in 1950 as a research and studio program in the arts, Haystack offers one and two-week studio workshops to participants of all skill levels as well as the two-week, Open Studio Residency program, exhibitions, campus tours, benefit auctions, artist presentations, and community programs — shorter workshops and a new Public Access Fab Lab for Maine residents and high school students.
Running with Scissors
Running With Scissors Art Studios is a dedicated makers space serving over 80 experienced to experimental artists and fine craftspeople working in various and sometimes multiple mediums. Set in the industrial and eclectic East Bayside neighborhood of Portland, ME RWS Art Studios is home to Clay, Print, and Wood departments. Our studios are a community where members share equipment, ideas, tools, and support.
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts is a nonprofit arts organization that offers summer and fall residencies, workshops, artist exhibition and talks, and other public events.
Supporting Institutions
Doles Orchard Box Shop
My name is Emily Chelate and I am the designer and manager of our woodworking and laser engraving shop in Limington, Maine. We offer a wide range of products and styles, from custom displays, tap handles, gift boxes and retail signage, to intricately cut ornaments, advents calendars, unique lighting, and more.
I learned the basics of woodworking with my father, but am a self-taught designer and laser artist. I love working closely with my customers and their ideas to create unique and exciting products just for them!
The Framemakers
The Framemakers is a full service custom picture frame shop since 1977. We offer consultations for any style, budget, and timeframe. Our vast frame and mat combinations offer preservation with a flair of beauty.
Since 2014, The Framemakers has dedicated wall and window space to celebrate creative works by local and regional artists while contributing to the creative local community. Our curative team manages both the on site gallery, a satellite gallery at Selah Tea Cafe at 177 Main Street, and an online gallery. We change our physical galleries every other month.
Handworks Gallery
Handworks Gallery, located in the center of the village of Blue Hill, features an exceptional collection of local and Maine art, contemporary craft, home goods, jewelry, and accessories. Founded in 1975, the gallery represents a diversity of established and emerging artists. We’re an ideal source for those special gifts that are one of a kind, thoughtfully created, and meaningful.
Island Artisans
Forty years ago a group of local Maine artists came together to create Island Artisans, a gallery located on Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor, ME. It is dedicated to showing the best of Maine arts and crafts. Continuing in that tradition, we offer the finest original works of over 100 of Maine’s leading artisans.
Contemporary American craft, art, home decor, and personal accessories, our unique collection of handmade items reflects the creative spirit of local designers and can be seen in two bright and welcoming galleries, now located in Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor.
Bar Harbor: 99 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, 207.288.4214
Northeast Harbor: 119 Main Street, Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662, 207.276.4045
Email: artisans@gwi.net
Facebook: facebook.com/IslandArtisans
Instagram: @islandartisansmdi
Member Institutions
American Furniture Masters Institute
The Fine Woodworking Program at the Maine State Prison is an outreach venture of the American Furniture Masters Institute, operating under the authority of the Maine Department of Corrections. The program, led by Furniture Masters members, teaches residents the skills of fine furniture making through a structured, solid curriculum.
Maine Prison Outreach takes place within the large Prison Industries woodshop at the prison in Warren and offers many benefits for residents. The program is an incentive for good behavior, an outlet for creativity, and a way to develop woodworking skills at a Master level. Participants develop disciplinary skills and a level of self-respect that provides post-incarceration career opportunities.
Artsworth
Artsworth Studios is a community arts organization illuminating the importance of creativity in all aspects of life through instruction, thought provoking exhibitions and special events.
Artsworth Studios is a non-profit arts organization attuned to the needs of the community. As a unique community resource, the center provides opportunities for exploration and discovery that illuminate the importance and value of the arts in all aspects of life. We are devoted to encouraging a wider appreciation and deeper understanding of the arts by providing innovative and accessible opportunities for all ages, including high quality art instruction, thought-provoking exhibitions and special events.
Artsworth Studios is the natural outgrowth of Atlantic Art Glass, a glassblowing studio owned and operated by Linda Perrin. Artists near and far have visited, collaborated and studied at the glass blowing studio. Perrin has attracted a community of creative people who are dedicated to a wider appreciation of art, with the intent to have a positive local impact. Training in glass blowing, blacksmithing, jewelry making, fiber arts, fine arts, performing arts as well as other creative cultural exchanges are now offered at 25 Pine Street in Ellsworth through Artsworth Studios.
Board Of Directors
Caroline Cotter President , Linda Perrin – Vice President, Cheryl Rosenfelder – Secretary, Jeff Toman – Past Treasurer, Molly Friedland, Fred Lies
The Art Department
The Art Department (T.A.D) is a nonprofit leadership program that advocates career exploration for Maine artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
T.A.D’s mission is to provide professional support for artists striving to reach their creative potential, in an environment that encourages each individual to develop technical skills, as well as collaborations with local artists, strategies for self-promotion, and connections through community events that contribute to the greater Portland art scene and beyond.
T.A.D provides art supplies, cameras, computers, studio space, and professional instruction to over 50 local artists in downtown Portland. Through public access to our workspaces and galleries, we strengthen community contacts and conversations about the inspiring talent and innovative creations of our artists.
T.A.D is a program of Creative Trails
ArtSmart Productions
ArtSmart Productions produces the annual Art Providence Show, which replaced the long-running, highly successful RISD Annual Holiday Sale upon its cancellation in 2017. It carries forth the tradition of high-caliber work across a variety of disciplines including jewelry, ceramics, furniture, apparel and more, but now includes artists/makers of all backgrounds, including but not limited to RISD alumni. Featuring 150-175 artists, makers and designers from throughout the US, the show has quickly built a reputation for both quality and diversity of work, much of which cannot be seen at other New England shows. ArtSmart also offers low-cost marketing services to artists/makers and arts-based organizations. Such services include digital asset creation (video, graphic design, website, etc.), on-site management/support of art- or craft-related events, and more. For more info, e-mail laura@artsmartproductions.com.
Belfast FiberArts
Belfast FiberArts is a community based fiber and textile arts shop that boasts over 30 Maine artists, founded by Alice Seeger in 2019. They host various weaving, spinning, and other fiber related workshops.
Berlian Arts
Berlian Arts is a creative agency located in Maine that services the artist community. We specialize in photography, design (web, graphic, CAD) and strategies for creative businesses. Robert Diamante and co-owner Nick Thompson use a combination of right- and left-brained strategies to help you succeed!
Bespoke Branded Fit
Bespoke Branded Fit is owned and operated by Myranda Caputo. An experience apparel development expert who has been working with brands in Maine and across the country. Although her focus is on pattern making and fit Myranda collaborates with a local team on extended services such as design, fabric, trim and factory sourcing.
Circling the Square Fine Art Press
Circling the Square Fine Art Press is an open access press where key-holding artists can work independently. Since the opening of the press in August 2007, the facility has been busy with artists working in serigraphy, relief and intaglio, making monotypes, editions, artist’s books.
Common Threads of Maine
Common Threads of Maine is a nonprofit professional sewing school, textile makerspace, and second-hand sewing supply and gift shop.
Factory 3
Factory 3 is a makerspace at 115 Saint James Street in Portland, Maine that hosts a diverse group of creatives, thinkers, dreamers, and entrepreneurs, from experts to beginners. We provide shared use of woodshop, metal shop, and textile equipment, and offer private studios for the dedicated maker. Factory 3’s array of workshops and creative courses contribute to the learning and development of not only our members but of Portland’s diverse community of artists, craftspersons, designers, engineers, and spirited business people. At Factory 3 our mission is to cultivate an inclusive culture where creative generosity thrives, where ideas are encouraged to grow, and where both novices and professionals are empowered to unleash their abilities.
Guided Makers
Rachel Battarbee and Myranda Caputo, the creators of Guided Makers’,
provide customized services for clients within design,
product development, technical development, and sourcing.
Whatever your scale or current production stage, Guided Makers is here to provide you with the expertise and resources to take your brand into its next phase of development. We help you prepare for and navigate each stage of apparel development — from the initial concepts through to being production-ready.
When you work with Guided Makers, you gain access to our decades
of experience in guiding and supporting businesses through the
successful production and launch of new apparel lines.
Handiwork
We’re a craft studio and market specializing in Maine-made delights and friendly creative encouragement. Take a class, teach a class, or find the right gift for any occasion.
Kennebec Clay Works
We are a small community studio offering pottery classes, workshops, and rental spaces in the Augusta/Central Maine area.
Lemont Block Collective
We are a team of eclectic, creative, hard-working painters, jewelers, photographers and crafts-people. We share a fantastic, sunny, ground-level retail space in a 145 year-old building, in the heart of walkable downtown Brunswick. Besides displaying our work, we also share the work of operating the Collective, so no matter when you arrive, you’ll meet one of us — and we are so glad to show you around!
Mad Dog Artist Studios
Mad Dog Artist Studios & Services is a six thousand square foot arts and crafts complex located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. We offer of variety of workshops and programming, as well as private and shared studio spaces. Membership includes access to a variety of equipment such as pottery wheels, kiln, jewelry bench, torches, and more. We welcome out-of-state guest artists and makers for attending and/or hosting workshops and programming. Get in touch to learn more!
Maine Fiberarts
For over 23 years, Maine Fiberarts has championed fiber art, craft, farms, businesses and learning centers through exhibitions in our Topsham Center/Gallery, Tour Maps to Studio & Farms, Midcoast Mini Tour, Exploring Fiber Art in Western Maine (new), FIBER ART MASTERS book and our LEARNING FIBER ART GUIDE. We maintain two websites: our flagship at https://www.mainefiberarts.org and our travel website https://www.mainefiberfolio.com. Come visit us in Topsham for traveling tips, fiber art referrals, and to see a great show.
Maine Pottery Tour
The Maine Pottery Tour is a self-guided driving tour of pottery & ceramics studios around the state. We organize this event to help potters find their audience, build community among potters, educate the public, and celebrate ceramic arts.
Markings Gallery
Markings Gallery offers an eclectic mix of works by Maine artists in metal, clay, fiber, paper, glass, paint, stone and wood. The Gallery opened in Bath, Maine in 2010 and features accomplished contemporary Maine artists and artisans. A core group of members takes care of the day to day business of the gallery and you will often meet them working in the gallery. We showcase a wide variety of individual pieces as well as seasonal thematic group shows.
Maine Jewelry & Art
Maine Jewelry & Art is a 100% made in Maine gallery featuring the work of over 40 Maine artists. We are owned and operated by 3 women artists living in and around the Bangor area. We carry jewelry, pottery, paintings, fiber art, and so much more!
Hidden Ladder Collective
We are The Hidden Ladder Collective, a rapidly growing tidal wave of creative energy based out of Portland, Maine. Canned culture does not create us. Instead, we create our own universes through art.
We bring art out of the cage of the museum and onto the street where it is accessible and interactive.
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum
The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum showcases our geological history, displays renowned mineral and rock collections, provides educational opportunities for the novice and expert alike, conducts historical and geological research and is a Maine travel destination for residents and visitors.
Mechanics’ Hall
Mechanics’ Hall inspires and enriches the community by promoting ingenuity, creativity, innovation, and the diffusion of useful knowledge.
Mechanics’ Hall combines successful traditions with new ideas to build a vibrant community of users, members, organizations with common interests, and the general public.
Mill Studio Arts
The Metals Collective
The Metals Collective is a Portland, Maine based group of makers whose mission is to promote the craft of metalsmithing & jewelry through collaboration, growth, and public engagement.
Founded in 2010, the Metals Collective has produced over a dozen group exhibitions, featuring over 20 different makers. For each show, a historical or conceptual theme is selected for participating members to respond to. Through the collaborative nature of the Metals Collective, each artist is encouraged to create work that is outside the bounds of their regular studio practice, resulting in individual artistic growth. By bringing handmade art jewelry and objects to view in public spaces, the Metals Collective engages the community with explorations of historical content and contemporary metalsmithing practices. Members range from fresh graduates to seasoned professionals.
www.metalscollective.com
Pickwick Independent Press
Rad community print shop in the heart of Portland, Maine, offering membership, workshops, commission work and more! We specialize in Relief, letterpress, screen, intaglio and riso printing.
Rewild Maine
Schoodic Arts for All
The mission of Schoodic Arts for All is to bring artists and community members together to provide year-round cultural events and activities that hold value for our community.
Spindleworks
Spindleworks makes it possible for people to be accepted and valued as contributing members of the artistic community as well as the community as a whole.
Our downtown Brunswick location serves as our home studio, providing professional art skills and mentorship to our artists. The big blue house welcomes the public for workshops, gallery exhibitions, and purchasing of one-of-a-kind art objects.
We provide art programming that advocates for inclusion and equity for artists with disabilities within the greater creative arts community. By establishing partnerships with community organizations, we offer integrated art experiences that support personal growth.
Tear Cap Workshops
Spin Off Studio
SpinOff Studio is a non profit art center for adults with disabilities in Gardiner, Maine, sister to Spindleworks in Brunswick. Both are programs of Independence Association, a Maine-grown organization whose mission is to help children and adults with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives in their chosen communities.
www.spinoffstudio.org
The Turtle Gallery
Seasonal gallery exhibiting fine art and contemporary craft in Down East Maine since 1982.