Materials Collection sample suppliers include artists, art studios, manufacturers, nonprofits, and collectives. Suppliers were invited to contribute to the collection based on identified needs within the inventory. The collection was created in 2024, and its development focused on creating an open-access resource aiming to enhance our audience’s understanding of craft and the possibilities it offers through tactile and experiential engagement with materials used in craft. For the first phase of developing the collection, this involved broad outreach to suppliers across fiber, wood, ceramic, and glass, as well as suppliers that worked with bio-based and alternative materials such as mycelium leather and biofoam. In the second phase of the collection’s development, we wanted to leverage its strengths as a source of material possibilities and revamp it to serve as a resource for artists, with an emphasis on generating material knowledge about bio-based materials. For this, our outreach efforts targeted suppliers who work with or develop biomaterials.
The Center for Craft does not endorse any material suppliers featured in its Materials Collection. Materials provided by suppliers are included solely for educational purposes, offering visitors an opportunity to explore and learn about craft through direct, tactile engagement. The presence of any material in the collection should not be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation of the supplier or its products.