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Welcome to Touchstone Center for Crafts! |
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About Touchstone |
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Touchstone
is a unique three-season crafts school in the beautiful Laurel Highlands
60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1972 as Pioneer
Crafts Council, Touchstone's original mission was to foster interest in
the preservation of traditional mountain crafts. Today, this unique craft
school has expanded to include contemporary and experimental techniques in
addition to traditional and historic methods in disciplines such as
blacksmithing, ceramics, metals, textiles, glass, oil and watercolor
painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. As Pennsylvania's only
residential craft school, Touchstone offers both beginner and seasoned
artists more than one hundred week-long and weekend courses taught by some
of North America's finest artists and artisans.
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| Course Offerings and Registration | |
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Click on the 'Classes' link at left to view courses and descriptions. For a print copy of the catalog, call 724-329-1370 or email your request to info@touchstonecrafts.com. For a PDF file of the catalog, click here or on the 'Catalog' link at left to download. For a text-only PDF of the catalog (which downloads faster), click here.
Registration is open! You may register by phone, fax, or email. Call
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| Touchstone welcomes L. Scott Hilliard to executive director post | |
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L. Scott Hilliard has joined Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, Pa., as the organization’s new executive director. Hilliard was chosen from a field of more than 30 candidates in a national search conducted earlier this year. A Greensburg resident, Hilliard comes to Touchstone from Try-Again Homes Inc., where he has served as executive director/chief executive officer since 1999. Hilliard officially began his new role at Touchstone April 14, but he participated in the Touchstone Board of Director’s strategic planning retreat April 11 - 13, where he shared in his understanding and commitment to the plan, and at Touchstone’s annual clean-up weekend, April 5 - 6. As Touchstone’s executive director he will manage the craft school’s daily operations, including the operation and administration of the campus and its financial operations, and help guide the organization into the future. He also will be responsible for and oversee grant writing and fundraising efforts, the school’s educational programming, community relations and outreach, and member and volunteer relations. Hilliard will report directly to Touchstone’s Board of Directors.“ I am excited to be part of Touchstone’s local and regional presence. I am immersing myself into the operations immediately to assess the needs and strengths of the organization, and, as the summer class season progresses, I will be looking to broaden Touchstone’s reach,” Hilliard says.
Hilliard is a long-time resident of the
region, and he acknowledges Touchstone’s success is dependant on many people.
“Touchstone’s resilience over the past 35 years is noteworthy. It’s an honor and
privilege to work with such a dedicated board, staff, volunteers and members,
among which are some world-class artisans. Looking towards the future,
Touchstone’s strategic plan will guide the organization’s growth and my efforts
as we move ahead.” Golba adds, “I think everyone who cares about Touchstone
should be excited about our future as Scott joins with us.” |
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| 2008 Calendar of Events | |
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NCECA Pre-Conference Workshop March 16 - 19 Touchstone hosts a glaze and wood-firing workshop by Jack Troy and Kevin Crowe. See Ceramics for more details. WAITING LIST ONLY.
Spring Clean-Up Celebration, Saturday and Sunday, April 5 - 6 Join us for a weekend of reunion and rebuilding with old and new friends while getting Touchstone into shape for the season. We’ll have a Saturday evening cookout and potluck. Bring a dish to share, relax around the campfire, and rediscover the magic of Touchstone. Everyone is welcome.
Uniontown Art Club Juried Show May 11 - 31 The Uniontown Art Club presents a juried show of works of regional artists in the Great Room. Featuring artists from southwestern Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and western Maryland, this special exhibit will be open to the public May 11 through 31 with a meet-the-artists reception on May 17 from 2pm to 4pm.
Touchstone Open House, Saturday, May 17, 10am to 5pm Our entire campus will open to the public, with all studios offering demonstrations and activities, for both children and adults. This will be a great way for the whole family to spend a spring day.
Artist of the Year Celebration, Saturday, June 28, 12pm to 4pm Join us as we celebrate Kate Fowle Meleney as Touchstone’s 2008 Artist of the Year. The Iron Gate Gallery will feature Kate’s works, and on June 28 we will have a reception to honor Kate, her work, and her many contributions to Touchstone.
Painting Exhibition and Ice Cream Social, Saturday, August 9, 1pm to 4pm We will have a painting exhibition at Touchstone’s Hart Moore Museum with an opening reception and ice cream social from noon to 3pm. The exhibit continues through August 31.
Annual Fall Benefit: Jazzed About Art III, Saturday, October 11, 2pm to 6pm Touchstone is hosting its third annual fundraising benefit and auction, Jazzed About Art III. The afternoon of art and music will feature the work of dozens of regional and national artists. Art lovers will find a myriad of original artworks available for bid in the event’s silent and live auctions. The silent auction will be from 2pm to 4:30pm, followed by the live auction at 4:45pm. Reserve your tickets by October 7. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by calling 724-329-1370. Hors d’oeuvres and complimentary wine and beer will be served.
Annual Hammer-In Dates to be decided for a fall weekend. Stay tuned for more information.
Pioneer Craft Days, Saturday and Sunday, October 18 – 19 Pioneer Craft Days is a celebration of the arts for the citizens of Fayette County and the surrounding tri-state region. Visitors of all ages are invited to participate in hands-on studio projects, creating works of art to take home. Build a clay pot in the ceramics studio, forge a nail in the blacksmith shop, learn a traditional metalsmithing technique in the metals and jewelry studio, manipulate glass in the glass studio, or express yourself in the painting studio. Fiddlers and cloggers will provide entertainment and an opportunity for participation in music and dance. There will also be a pumpkin-carving contest and a traditional buckwheat cake dinner. Together with other Pittsburgh 250 events, Pioneer Craft Days will provide an educational and inspirational experience for young and old.
Annual Membership Meeting, Saturday, November 1 Members are invited to the annual member meeting where we will review the year’s accomplishments, elect board members, and plan for 2009.
Thursday Evening Auctions
Veteran’s Initiative Program Touchstone’s Veteran’s Initiative Program (VIP) is an outreach scholarship program created to provide tuition, room, and board for one week to Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. In light of the benefits that the arts can lend to the healing process, these weeklong scholarships will be offered to veterans who have completed medical or rehabilitation treatments (if necessary) and have returned to civilian life. Awardees may apply on his or her own or be nominated by others. For more information or to obtain an application, please call 1-800-721-0177.
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| Contact Us | |
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For information about classes, registration, special events, and general inquiries, email info@touchstonecrafts.com
or call
To join the mailing or emailing list, email info@touchstonecrafts.com Other contact info: Collette Ridgeway, operations director : tcc@touchstonecrafts.com L. Scott Hilliard, executive director: director@touchstonecrafts.com
Board of Directors:
touchstone@touchstonecrafts.com
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