St. Louis’ Craft Alliance will bring a new brand of cultural attraction within walking distance of the Saint Louis University campus this fall when it opens a satellite center at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Olive Street.
The not-for-profit Craft Alliance (currently at 6640 Delmar Ave.) was established more than 40 years ago with a mission statement to provide inspiration and education in fine contemporary crafts to the entire community through exhibitions, sales and instruction.
Focusing on the three-dimensional media such as ceramics, fibers, glass, woods and metals, the Craft Alliance “is trying [to open] doors for young people to do exciting things,” said Daryl Huitt, public relations and marketing manager at Craft Alliance.
The organization runs several outreach programs to expose young people to art and offers classes and demonstrations to local high school students. Craft Alliance recruits aspiring artists for a four-year program that aims to develop talent and organizes portfolios to help these artists as they pursue undergraduate art school.
Huitt said a major motivation for the location of the new center, in addition to being part of Grand Boulevard’s historic cultural district, is the proximity to both SLU and three nearby high schools.
“We always want to get young artists involved,” Huitt said.
When the center opens in the fall, it will offer opportunities to a wide variety of SLU students.
Several SLU art classes are scheduled to meet in the workspace, and students are encouraged to look into non-curriculum classes offered by Craft Alliance.
Anyone hoping to participate in the community outreach program will have several options.
They will share a building with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Huitt said Craft Alliance will encourage the brother and sister pairs to make use of its resources.
Those who cannot commit to class or want to try something new should look out for free-for-all days when Craft Alliance opens its doors to the community to come in for hands-on participation. For anyone who only wants to observe, the gallery will be open every day but Monday. The new space will offer twice the gallery space of Craft Alliance’s Delmar Loop location.
Boo McLoughlin, Executive Director of the Craft Alliance, hopes the increased floor area and high ceiling will allow artists to “involve the entire space as opposed to just displaying pieces.”
A new initiative that will begin in conjunction with the opening of the center on Grand Boulevard is an Artist-in-Residency program.
This arrangement will offer artists free use of the studio space and gallery, as well as offer the community the opportunity to come and observe the artist at work as well as take classes under him or her.
For more information about Craft Alliance and the opportunities at hand, visit craftalliance.org.
