Vermont State Craft Center Overview Commission & Standards Group History

Link to the State Statute, signed by the Governor

The crafts community of Vermont came together in 1993 at the invitation of the Governor and the Vermont Arts Council to develop the parameters to govern the designation of a Vermont State Craft Center. An Executive Order was signed on June 16, 1993 to create a Vermont State Craft Center Overview Commission (Overview Commission) to administer an official State Craft Center designation process to promote crafts throughout Vermont and to ensure that all State Craft Centers represent the State in the best possible manner.

In 2005 a subcommittee of the Overview Commission led an effort to explore ways to revise the Executive Order to make the State designation more accessible and of greater benefit to the crafts community.

In 2006, the Governor signed an Executive Order revising the existing Vermont State Craft Center designation. The Overview Commission empowered representatives (elected by the crafts community) to work on this task. The Standards Group has met for over a year to redesign the application and jury process and is now accepting applications.

The Overview Commission and the Standards Group have created a network of Vermont craft organizations and businesses that join with the State of Vermont to promote, encourage and support excellence and success in the Vermont craft community. This can foster an appreciation of the contributions of the Vermont crafts community to the economic and cultural vitality of our state.

Although funds are currently limited, the State of Vermont is committed to collaborating with the craft community on this project.

Both high quality galleries and craft education centers can apply, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. The network of Vermont State Craft Centers has power in numbers and can work out joint marketing strategies that benefit all.