The first annual Philadelphia Craft Show was held in Memorial Hall in 1977. Members of the American Craft Council, staff of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts were in attendance. The City of Philadelphia proclaimed Philadelphia Craft Week to coincide with the show. It was at this time, that the Women’s Committee created a special fund where proceeds from the annual Craft Show are granted to the museum annually with the intent to grow the American Craft Collection.
Between 1981- 2019 over $1,317,000 was granted to the American Art Department for the acquisition of American Craft for the museum’s permeant collection.
Photo: Red Luster 2008 by Chung Haecho