African Americans have played an important role as makers since the dawn of the American experiment. As primary makers in all areas of craft during slavery, their skills and knowledge have contributed tremendously to building this nation, even while, for the most part, receiving no compensation. Since emancipation, in the nineteenth through the twenty-first centuries, African American artisans have continued to produce, often with scant recognition of their participation or equal access to the craft establishment in the United States.

The African American Craft Initiative (AACI), launched in 2020 in response to the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and institutional racism, was designed to expand the visibility of African American artisans and ensure equitable access to resources. Established through a consultative process of dialogue with African American makers and organizations, as well as the mainstream craft sector in the United States, AACI outlined concrete actions for sustainable change.

We collaborated with makers and organizations to encourage the vitality of African American craft, supporting efforts to document and present their work, strengthen networks, and increase access to opportunities and resources. Through collaborative research, documentation, and public programming, the initiative built upon the relationship between craft and community by amplifying and supporting efforts of African American makers to sustain their craft practice. AACI facilitated networking and outreach opportunities, advocated for equitable access to markets and resources, and improved the public’s understanding of the history, cultural background, and aesthetics of African American craft.

After four years supporting and engaging with craft artists across the country, AACI has ended at our Center, but the work continues as the African American Craft Alliance, supported by the Folk School Alliance.

The banner image is a piece by African American quilter Sylvia Stephens, inspired by traditional Ghanaian kente cloth and the tiered crown shape of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.