Maine Crafts Association: Membership

Membership cycle is January 1- December 31, so the earlier in the year you join, the longer you qualify for membership benefits! Join anytime after September 1st for the remainder of the current year and all of the following year.

Scroll down for an overview of our membership pricing, levels and benefits or select a button to access registration and payment forms as an Individual, Guild Level (prerequisites required), or Institution.

INDIVIDUALS: MEMBERSHIP LEVELS & ANNUAL FEES

Lifetime Membership (at board discretion only)
$125 Professional Membership
          $175 Partners Professional  
          $75 Emerging Professional
          $45 Student Level
$75 Basic Membership
Note: Retail Membership was discontinued in 2022, previous members at this level now renew as Basic.

$175 Guild Level Membership
          $225 Partners Guild Level 

INSTITUTIONS: MEMBERSHIP LEVELS & ANNUAL FEES

$300 Patron Institution
$200 Supporting Institution
$150 Member Institution

Which Level is Right for Me? Individual Membership Overview

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP (not available for purchase)
This level is awarded to our Master Craft Artist Award Winners, and others, at the discretion of the MCA Board of Directors. In addition to award-specific benefits, it includes all benefits assigned to other membership levels.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP $125
Professional level membership is open to anyone and provides connectivity and  benefits for artists through access to, or discounts on MCA educational, marketing and networking events and activities. Professional Members receive a member directory listing with contact and bio info as well as three images. This level membership is REQUIRED for everyone with work for sale at the Center for Maine Craft and/or Maine Craft Portland (unless you qualify for the Basic level).

PARTNERS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP $175
A Partners Professional Membership has the same benefits as the Professional Membership and is available for partners working in the same business or practice. (This was formally called a COUPLES membership and was available to couples with different businesses/practices which is no longer the case).

EMERGING PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP $75
Emerging Professional Membership has the same benefits as the Professional Membership but reserved for early-in-career artists; for one year only.

STUDENT LEVEL MEMBERSHIP $45
The Student Level Membership has the same benefits as the Professional Membership but reserved for students pursuing a degree in craft.

BASIC MEMBERSHIP $75
The Basic Membership also offers connectivity to MCA – discounts and access to programming but with some limitations or different fee structures.

NOTE: Basic Membership is required from Center for Maine Craft and/or Maine Craft Portland vendors of audio, video, cards, books, food (including pet) and personal care products. (Previously these vendors were “Retail Level Members” which has been discontinued).

GUILD LEVEL MEMBERSHIP $175
This juried membership level is only available to artists who have been approved through our show jury and live in Maine or within a town 10 miles of our state line. Guild Level Membership is required to participate in the MCA Guild Fine Craft Shows and includes all Professional Level Benefits.

PARTNERS GUILD LEVEL MEMBERSHIP $225
A Partners Guild Level Membership has the same benefits as the Guild Level Membership and is available for partners working in the same business or practice.

MCA INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: $150 – $300

For: 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.

MCA MEMBERSHIP: BENEFITS & DETAILS

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP: $125

Professional Level membership offers the most benefits, access and discounts and is designed for artists who make their living from their craft and participate regularly in MCA’s educational, marketing, and networking events and activities. This membership is required for everyone with work for sale in the MCA retail galleries, (unless you qualify for the Basic level, see below).

Partners Professional Membership: $175: Same Professional benefits for both business partners. (2019 Update: other types of couples do not qualify and need to purchase individual memberships)

Emerging Craft Artist Professional Membership: $75: Same Professional benefits for artists who are beginning their career in craft. For one-year only.

Student Level Membership: $45: Same Professional benefits for full time high-school and college students.

General Benefits

• Qualify for all member-only opportunities, events, discounts and programs throughout the year
• Free inclusion in Maine Craft Weekend (opt-in required, event is annually in October)
• Opportunity to apply for Member-only programming / projects / initiatives
• Opportunity to sell work at Center for Maine Craft + Maine Craft Portland (jury process + approval required)
• Receive member-only enewsletters in addition to monthly MCA enewsletter
• Opportunity to participate in exhibition and demonstrations at Center for Maine Craft + Maine Craft Portland
• Opportunity to be invited to exhibit in MCA Member Exhibitions
• Opportunity to have product for sale in Maine Craft SHOP: The Maine Crafts Association Online Store
• Invitations to member meetings, gatherings and events

Marketing Benefits

• Member page on MCA website: Enhanced visibility via a description of work, artist statement/biography, three images and link to member’s website
• MCA shares, likes and links of member social media posts
• Free inclusion in Source + Buy: Maine Craft From Home (opt in)
• Access to MCA Co-op Advertising opportunities (fees apply)
• Opportunity to be included in annual Lots of Lovely Things gift guide (curated by MCA Retail Gallery staff)
• Listing + Online map placement for Maine Craft Weekend (Opt-in required, event is annually in October)

Discounts

• Qualify for MCA Member rate for Portland Fine Craft Show Jury Fee and Booth Fee in August
• Qualify for Shop Maine Craft’s East End Vend member discount
• Qualify for MCA Member rate for MCA Weekend Workshop @ Haystack in May
• Qualify for MCA Member rate for MCA Business Workshops for Artists
• 100% discount (free!) on Maine Craft Weekend participant list and map
• 15% discount all purchases at the Center for Maine Craft & Maine Craft Portland
• 10% discount at Artist & Craftsmen
• 50% discount on premium brochure space within the Cultural Tourism Display area (as space allows) at the Center
• Qualify for all other member-rates on new events and programs throughout the year

BASIC MEMBERSHIP: $75

MCA’s Basic Membership offers opportunities for craft artists who work part-time at their craft or participate only occasionally in exhibitions or market their work on a limited basis. It offers connectivity to the MCA and craft community through communication, discounts and access to programming, but at a lower level than the Professional Levels. Basic members can upgrade to the Professional level at any point during the year if needed. (Please note that a Professional Level membership is required to participate in some programs & opportunities)

NOTE: Beginning in 2022, Basic Membership is required from Center for Maine Craft and/or Maine Craft Portland vendors of audio, video, cards, books, food (including pet) and personal care products. (Previously these vendors were “Retail Level Members” which has been discontinued).

General Benefits

• Inclusion in Maine Craft Weekend (opt-in required, event is annually in October)
• Receive periodic member-only enewsletters in addition to monthly MCA enewsletter
• Exhibition and Demonstration opportunities at Center for Maine Craft + Maine Craft Portland
• Invitations to member meetings, gatherings and events
• Basic members qualify for the member rate for Shop Maine Craft’s markets: Seconds & Supplies Sale and East End Vend.

Marketing Benefits

• Member page on MCA website: Enhanced visibility via a description of work, artist statement/biography, three images and link to member’s website
• Access to MCA Co-op Advertising opportunities (fees apply)
• Listing + Online map placement for Maine Craft Weekend (Opt-in required, event is annually in October)

Discounts

• Qualify for MCA Weekend Workshop @ Haystack Member rate
• Qualify for Shop Maine Craft’s Seconds & Supplies Sale member discount
• Qualify for Shop Maine Craft’s East End Vend member discount
• 100% discount on Maine Craft Weekend participant list and map
• 15% discount all purchases at the Center for Maine Craft + Maine Craft Portland
• 50% discount on premium brochure space within the Cultural Tourism Display area (as space allows) at the Center

GUILD LEVEL MEMBERSHIP: $175

The new 2020 MCA juried membership level: Only for Maine craft artists who are approved, through our jury process, and desire to, participate in the MCA Guild Fine Craft Shows. Once juried into this level you are approved for the shows, and space permitting, have auto-entry into the shows. In 2020 shows will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis, followed by a waitlist.

The Guild Membership also includes all the Professional Membership benefits.

PARTNERS Guild Membership: $225: Same benefits for both business partners. (Other types of couples do not qualify and need to purchase individual memberships)

SHOP MAINE CRAFT CUSTOMER MEMBERSHIP

Known as the Individual Patron level, customer members of Shop Maine Craft receive a 15% discount on purchases and exclusive invitations to special events and sales in the Shop Maine Craft Webshop and retail galleries: Center for Maine Craft and Maine Craft Portland. This is a Shop Maine Craft customer shopping benefit only; it does not include MCA artist-member benefits or qualify as a membership level for retail gallery vendors.

$45, Active for one year from purchase date