FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southern Highland Craft Guild Announces 2026 Emerging Artist Program Applications Now Open

ASHEVILLE, NC — The Southern Highland Craft Guild is now accepting applications for its 2026 Emerging Artist Program, a professional development opportunity designed to support early-career craftspeople across the Southern Appalachian region.

Since 1930, the Guild has championed fine craft and the craftspeople who sustain it. The Emerging Artist Program extends this legacy by supporting emerging voices in the field, affirming the enduring historical significance of craft while investing in the makers who will shape its future.

The program offers two cohorts of ten artists the opportunity to participate in the renowned Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands while gaining essential business and marketing skills to advance their careers. Selected artists will participate in either the July 16–19, 2026 or October 15–18, 2026 edition of the Craft Fair, held in downtown Asheville, and will receive targeted support to help prepare for exhibiting at a major fine craft fair.

Program Highlights

Emerging Artists selected for the program will receive:

• Participation in the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
  July 16–19, 2026 or October 15–18, 2026

• 50% Booth Fee Discount
  Reducing financial barriers for first-time fair participants

• Marketing Support
  Featured promotion through Guild social media, email campaigns, and advertising

• Waived Guild Membership Application Fee
  Valid if artists apply for membership within one year of participation

• Peer Cohort Experience
  Opportunities to connect with fellow emerging artists and build professional networks

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Reside in a county within the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s regional footprint

• Have been selling their work professionally for fewer than seven years

• Not be currently enrolled in a college or university arts program

• Work in a Guild-represented medium, including clay, leather, glass, mixed media, wood, fiber, manmade materials, metal, natural materials, jewelry, or paper

• Be 18 years of age or older

Key Dates

• Applications open: Now

• Application deadline: Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM

• Notification of acceptance: By April 15, 2026

Professional development programming takes place during the 8–10 weeks leading up to each Fair. The spring cohort runs from early May through the July Fair, while the fall cohort runs from early August through the October Fair. There is one application cycle for both cohorts.

Application Requirements

Applicants must:

• Complete the online application

• Email a resume or CV and an 8–10 image portfolio to [email protected]

Artists may also sign up on the Guild’s website to receive email reminders about application deadlines and program updates.

Learn More:

https://southernhighlandguild.org/news-stories/emerging-artist-program/