Smithsonian Craft Show Goes Virtual in 2020

The 2020 Smithsonian Craft Show will be held virtually from Oct. 13 to Oct. 25. Originally scheduled for April, the craft show was postponed due to health and safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For nearly two weeks (Oct. 13–25), online Artist Shops will feature over 100 contemporary crafters. Each artist has created a digital Artist Shop on the secured Bidsquare.com platform, where visitors can browse or seek a specific treasure, and purchases can be made safely. The categories include works of wearable art, basketry, ceramics, decorative fibers, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed-media, paper and wood.

The virtual craft show kicks off with a special Smithsonian Visionary Award ceremony on Oct. 13th to celebrated Seattle ceramicist Patti Warashina. As with all the events, this evening is free to attend and requires only a pre-event registration on the ​website​.

The virtual craft show gala will be held Oct. 21, and hosted by Washington, D.C., celebrity chef Carla Hall. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III will be a speaker.

Following the brief gala, the online live auction will offer bidders the opportunity to win unique craft pieces. Interested buyers can and should register before the event, but anyone can browse the collection, available on the ​website​.

For more information, go to ​www.SmithsonianCraftShow.org​.