Please consider support­ing the work we are doing to help make a mean­ing­ful and lasting contri­bu­tion to the local community.

Thank You!

During the 2018 Furni­ture Society Member Meeting, a member received a stand­ing ovation for her sugges­tion that the Furni­ture Society find ways to make a differ­ence in the cities where we host our annual conferences. 

In response, the Craft for a Greater Good initia­tive was launched in 2019 in conjunc­tion with our confer­ence in Milwau­kee. The goal of the project was to posi­tion furni­ture and creative problem solving as univer­sal connec­tors, to tap our rich collec­tive skill sets, and to pass those skills on to the next gener­a­tion while making a mean­ing­ful contri­bu­tion to the local commu­nity. Confer­ence atten­dees, partner orga­ni­za­tions, crafts­peo­ple, and local resi­dents collab­o­ra­tively created work with lasting social benefit and have affected positive change. 

In this iter­a­tion of Craft for a Greater Good, Annie & Ellie will be the liaison between TFS and our part­ners at STEAM Studios and our member­ship to explore the design-build process which includes devel­op­ing designs, and proto­typ­ing furni­ture for tiny homes that will be used by BeLoved Asheville as they serve the home­less popu­la­tion in Asheville.

The launch of our new Local Resi­dent Fellow posi­tion will allow us to forge a deeper connec­tion and long-term commit­ment to our host city, ensur­ing the success of this program.

This years Craft for a Greater Good will be held at STEAM studios — on the campus of UNC Asheville. Brent Skid­more and his talented team will help educate local youth and teach them to create furni­ture for BeLoved Asheville, an orga­ni­za­tion that helps build micro homes for those in need. 

Stay tuned for more details of how you can get involved!

In conjunc­tion with the FS19 Ground­work confer­ence, The Furni­ture Society part­nered with two local orga­ni­za­tions: HOME GR/OWN an initia­tive working to trans­form neigh­bor­hoods in Milwau­kee, and the Milwau­kee Art Museum (MAM) Teen Intern­ship Program, connect­ing teens with prac­tic­ing artists to address issues impor­tant to their commu­nity. During the span of the confer­ence, atten­dees used unique and surpris­ing mate­ri­als to construct benches designed by Madison, Wiscon­sin artist, Tom Loeser, for the Victory Over Violence park.