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Our Mission

To advance the art of furni­ture making by inspir­ing creativ­ity, promot­ing excel­lence, and foster­ing an under­stand­ing of this art and its place in society. 

Our vision is to culti­vate a diverse commu­nity and conver­sa­tion around furni­ture in all its forms.

DSCF1270
 Matthew Nafranowicz
Membership

Become a Member

With access to members-only sections of our website, discounts on work­shops, members-only events and much more, becom­ing a member is both a strate­gic and finan­cial value. Follow the link below about the bene­fits of each type of member­ship and why you should join.

Carved Arm Chair Aspen Golann
Members

Featured Member September 2019: Aspen Golann

Aspen Golann is a 17th & 18th century furni­ture maker whose work explores gender and power through the manip­u­la­tion of classic Amer­i­can furni­ture forms. She holds a degree in Fine Furni­ture from The North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA and is currently the Wood Shop Coor­di­na­tor of The Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC. Learn more at her website: aspen​golann​.com.

Opportunities

  1. Calls, Calls for Nomination

    Call for Nominations! The Furniture Society’s Award of Distinction 2020

    Who will YOU nominate?

    Submit your nomi­na­tions for the Furni­ture Soci­ety’s 2020 Award of Distinc­tion, recog­nizing and cele­brating an indi­vid­ual or insti­tu­tion recog­nized as having had a profound impact on our field. The Award is intended to strengthen the fabric of the Furni­ture Soci­ety’s commu­nity by naming and cele­brat­ing its aesthetic and intellectual leaders.

    Who do you think deserves to join this illus­tri­ous group of people who exem­plify lives and work devoted to study, work and craft, and to the educa­tion of others? 

    Past honorees include Sam Maloof, James Krenov, Tage Frid, Wendell Castle, Art Espenet Carpen­ter, John Make­peace, Alan Peters, Jere Osgood, Jonathan Fair­banks, William Keyser, Garry Knox Bennett, Judy Kensley McKie, Tommy Simpson, Michael Fortune, Walker Weed, Wendy Maruyama, Vladimir Kagan, John Cederquist, Rosanne Somer­son, Warren & Bebe Johnson, Thomas Hucker, Edward S. Cooke, and Craig Nutt, and Tom Loeser.

  2. Calls, Call for Entry, Grants, Shipping Grant

    Call for Submissions! Exhibition Furniture and Sculptural Objects 2020

    EFASO

    The Furni­ture Society proudly announces the return of member­ship benefit, EFASO (Exhibit­ing Furni­ture and Sculp­tural Objects). This program has been made possi­ble through the gener­ous support of the John and Robyn Horn Foundation.

    Open to current members of The Furni­ture Society (both indi­vid­u­als and institutional/​organizations).

  4. Events

    25th Annual Philadelphia Furniture Show

    October 4 – 6, 2019

    The Philadel­phia Furni­ture Show (PFS) is the longest running craft furni­ture show, now in its 25th year. Please visit the PFS website for complete details on the 2019 show: 

    http://​www​.philadel​phi​a​fur​ni​tureshow​.com/

    In conjunc­tion with the PFS, The Furni­ture Society hosts the annual Emerg­ing Artist Contest. Up to two appli­cants are selected by jury and are awarded free booth space in the exhi­bi­tion. Details about the 2019 recip­i­ents — Furni­ture Society members Jamie Herman and Irene Wei — as well as previ­ous recip­i­ents (since 2014) can be found here:

    https://​www​.philadel​phi​a​fur​ni​tureshow​.com/​e​m​e​r​g​i​n​g​-​a​r​t​i​s​t​-​c​o​ntest


  5. Events

    ACC: Present Tense: 2019

    Join this vital conversation on the importance of craft today happening in Philadelphia, October 10 – 12, 2019

    ACC hosts a national conver­sa­tion explor­ing craft’s rele­vance as a power­ful cata­lyst for navi­gat­ing and making meaning in an increas­ingly complex present. 

    As a national advo­cacy nonprofit commit­ted to connect­ing and galva­niz­ing diverse craft commu­ni­ties, ACC invites artists, thought leaders, craft prac­ti­tion­ers, cura­tors, civic leaders, writers, critics, media makers, social activists, and all kinds to explore, chal­lenge, and cele­brate craft’s impact in Amer­i­can life today. 

    Together, we invite you to mine the gener­a­tive spirit on which the ACC was founded, as we iden­tify and confront the poten­tials in contem­po­rary Amer­i­can life, affirm the neces­sity and power of making things by hand, and build a health­ier craft ecosys­tem for moving forward.

    Our collec­tive conver­sa­tions over the three days will guide subse­quent retreats and programs, begin penning solu­tions, and collab­o­ra­tively set a national stage for ways to take action and record our progress. Visit our web site for complete information

Sponsors

  1. The John & Robyn Horn Foundation
  2. The Windgate Foundation