Discover Funding Opportunities

The Curatorial Fellowship is a 10-month program that gives emerging craft curators a platform to explore and test new ideas about craft. The fellowship awards emerging curators $5,000 and provides a platform to explore new curatorial approaches to craft. For the 2026 Curatorial Fellowship, proposals that explore themes of Craft and Community Vitality are welcome, examining how craft builds personal, social, economic, and community well-being, and what role craft could play in solving pressing issues from climate change to natural disasters. The fellowship includes an exhibition budget of $8,000, mentorship from experienced curatorial staff, and support for mounting an exhibition in the Center for Craft's Bresler Family Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina. Fellows are responsible for creating a comprehensive exhibition checklist, coordinating shipping and installation instructions, writing exhibition labels and didactics, and participating in educational programs.

The Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residency at the Center for Craft is an eight-week visiting artist residency in Asheville, North Carolina, that provides four residents the time to develop their work, access to new materials, facilitated shared learning experiences, and a $10,000 honorarium. This unique opportunity connects artists-in-residence with makers and resources in Western North Carolina to enhance their practice, develop reciprocal relationships, and expand their networks. Each resident selects a local craft organization to partner with in exploring a new material. Two residents are selected from Western North Carolina, and two are previous recipients of the Virginia A. Groot Award or Honorable Mention. Residents receive a $10,000 honorarium; accommodations in Asheville for the duration of the residency; daily access to an approximately 200-square-foot workspace and shared studio resources; a Flex Desk pass at Cowork at Center for Craft; and a facilitated partnership with a regional craft space. The residency includes material-based exploration with local craft organizations, up to 3 days of regional exploration including studio, gallery, and archive visits, and participation in public engagement events.

The Center for Craft Teaching Artist Cohort awards unrestricted grants of $10,000 to 30 mid-career craft artists who teach. A six-month cohort experience supports their development as artists and educators, expands their professional networks, and enhances their ability to create an enriching impact on the communities they engage. The program provides opportunities and resources that help sustain a generative practice, supports craft artists in creating an enriching impact on the communities they engage through teaching, and develops and strengthens networks of teaching artists through peer-to-peer learning and connection. Recipients participate in virtual workshops and convenings from June 2025 through November 2025, with access to mentorship and professional development programming designed specifically for teaching artists working in craft.

The Windgate-Lamar Fellowship is a prestigious award program that has been supporting emerging craft artists since 2006. Each year, the Center for Craft identifies 10 graduating students with exemplary skill in craft and awards them $15,000 in unrestricted funds. The fellowship provides crucial support during the transition from student to working artist, allowing recipients to create unique plans for their personal and artistic growth. Fellows have historically used the funds to conduct material research, establish a studio, engage in further learning opportunities, and travel to locations significant to their research. In addition to the financial award, each Fellow receives support through cohort convenings and professional development opportunities with the Center for Craft. Since its inception in 2006, the program has invested $3,000,000 in 200 emerging craft artists, creating a network of support and building a foundation for future success in the craft field.