Nominations are open for the 2022 Maine Craft Artist Awards.

In 2009, the Maine Crafts Association began to honor individual Maine craft artists each year by awarding recognition for a body of work or career of service that is exceptional. This award will confer the prestige and acknowledgment that comes with having the artist’s work achieve a distinguishing mark of excellence.

The 2022 Maine Craft Artist Award will be announced in May with an award presentation and exhibition later in the year.

This award is granted for a body of work and a career of service in the Arts. Nominees’ work is judged through images of the body of work (and/or hands on examination of individual pieces), documentation of the artists’ career through resumes, portfolios, publications, etc. In reviewing the work of artists nominated for the Maine Crafts Artist Awards, the jury is guided by these benchmarks: excellence in craftsmanship, inspired design, a singular voice or style, and a career of service to the field.

Excellence in craftsmanship is demonstrated by work that shows the highest standards of quality, a superior command of the medium far beyond basic and intermediate proficiency skills: attention to detail, and the use of the highest quality materials that further enhance the overall design. Entire works are executed without technical flaws and meet their intended purpose, functioning impeccably. The appropriateness of technique and process are successfully united in pieces that show excellence in craftsmanship.

Inspired design is demonstrated by work whose design shows resolution: excellent composition, employing tension and space to enhance the overall design. Choice of materials and methods show innovation and proficiency. Inspired design also surprises or intrigues the viewer.

Singular voice or style is an innate part of the established and acclaimed craftsperson’s expression. A conceptual richness evidenced in the work shows the nature, complexion, and execution that mark the individual’s work as distinctive. It sets the work apart, not only qualitatively, but also in achieving an individual identity, readily recognizable as belonging to that maker.

Maine Craft Artist Awardees receive the following benefits:

– Lifetime MCA membership

– Award certificate

– Recognition at the annual award presentation

– Annually created award pin that is designed to reflect the honoree 

– Special press release/website feature

– Solo Maine Crafts Artist Award exhibition at Center for Maine Craft or Maine Craft Portland

– Invitation to teach at MCA Weekend Workshop at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

– Invitation to exhibit at any scheduled Guild Fine Craft Shows (offered by Shop Maine Craft)

– Inclusion in anniversary exhibitions, such as 10-year, 20-year (to be announced)

To nominate a Maine craft artist (self-nominations permitted), click here and fill out the online form. Please note: All craft artists nominated since 2018 will be automatically considered for the 2022 award. Nominations of BIPOC Maine Craft Artists are strongly encouraged.

If the artist does not have a good representation of their work or bio/resume online, follow up the nomination submission with an email to Simonne@MaineCrafts.org. 

The deadline to nominate for the 2022 year cycle of awards is April 8.

For more information, email programs manager Simonne Feeney at simonne@mainecrafts.org.