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For 62 years, a guild of craft artists and collectors—bound by their devotion to the handmade object and the enduring heritage of craft—has helped shape Winston-Salem, the city of Arts & Innovation.
Photo source: Piedmont Craftsmen website
Since its founding in 1963, Piedmont Craftsmen has promoted the work of its exhibiting members and brought fine craft in a variety of media to the community. In a world dominated by mass production, the unique and original pieces showcased in their gallery and online are valued not only for their beauty but for the craftsmanship and spirit they represent. Each year, the Piedmont Craftsmen Fair is one of the city’s most anticipated and well-attended events.
The History Of The Piedmont Craftsmen
The Piedmont Craftsmen is a guild founded by craft artists and collectors to honor and represent the work of handcrafted art. The small group that founded the guild in 1963 established guidelines for a juried exhibiting membership, aimed to educate the public about fine art, and hosted its first Crafts Fair to promote and sell members’ work. By the end of its first year in existence, Piedmont Craftsmen had 46 Exhibiting, 44 Associate, and 10 Patron Members. Today, the guild boasts over 400 Exhibiting Artist Members and a large group of donors. The areas it services include North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
The Piedmont Craftsmen Exhibiting Artists
Exhibiting Membership in Piedmont Craftsmen includes a wide range of creative voices and visions. Artisans in all the major craft media are represented, and include young, new makers and established artists with national and international reputations. You can find a list of the exhibiting artists, or search for one by name here.
The exhibiting artists work with many mediums, including clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, wood, photography, printmaking, and leather. You can view a collection of work by various makers in each of these fine craft mediums here.
The Piedmont Craftsmen Guild is committed to building a vibrant and diverse community of craft artists and collectors, and welcomes artists living throughout the US to become members. The primary criteria for membership are quality in design, technical skill, and originality. Makers with a clear, distinctive artistic voice and mastery of their chosen medium are invited to apply. For more information on becoming an Artist Member and an application, see the Piedmont Craftsmen Become An Artist Member website.
The 2025 Piedmont Craftsmen Fair
The Piedmont Craftsmen Fair is the most significant event hosted by the guild and the most eagerly awaited exhibition for fine craft makers. Held annually, the fair showcases the one-of-a-kind works of over 100 artisans from across the Southeast, working in various mediums. In 2025, the Piedmont Craftsmen Fair celebrates its 62nd year of bringing the work of quality craftsmanship and excellent design to Winston-Salem. The fair will be held November 22 from 10am to 6pm and November 23 from 12pm to 5pm, with a Preview Night on November 21 from 6pm to 9pm at the Benton Convention Center, 301 W 5th Street, Winston-Salem. Parking is available at 527 N Cherry Street. Spend the day meeting the artists, learning about their work, experiencing demos, and finding unique gifts. The cost for a Day Pass is $13 for adults, $11 for students and seniors, and kids under 18 are free. K-12 educators are also free with a valid school ID. A Weekend Pass is $20. Costs do not include shipping fees. You can avoid the line at the door and order tickets online here. To see information about this year’s artists, visit the Piedmont Craftsmen Fair Website.
Photo source: the Piedmont Craftsmen website
The Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery And Shop
The Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery welcomes visitors with a bright, artfully designed space filled with fine crafts that radiate the warmth of the hands, hearts, and imaginations of Piedmont Craftsmen Exhibiting Artists. Handcrafted work encompasses intricately designed textiles, skillfully turned wooden bowls, expertly thrown pottery, delicately blown glass, sculpted metal, inventive jewelry, and sumptuous wearables. Whether you are looking for a small gift, decorative and functional home items, or exquisite one-of-a-kind pieces, you will find them in the Gallery and Shop. Visit this site for online shopping. The Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery is located at 601 N Trade Street, Winston-Salem. The Gallery and Shop are open five to seven days a week, depending on the season, and for First Friday Gallery Hops. Its current hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 11am to 4pm. Visit the Piedmont Craftsmen website.
Exhibits
The Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery hosts an exhibit featuring the Artist of the Month, which celebrates the craftsmanship of an exhibiting member. The exhibits run for two months and include makers of different media. The current exhibit, from October 3 through November 29, features the vibrant quilts of Exhibiting Artist in Fiber, Susan Webb Lee, and the crystalline-glazed ceramics of Exhibiting Artist in Clay, Marie Wright. Visit this site to see upcoming events, exhibits, artist talks, and more.
2025 Holiday Extravaganza
The gallery and shop will highlight the festive holiday spirit as it shines with sparkling fine craft wares from a variety of Exhibiting Artist Members in various media. Think out of the ordinary, about a unique, handcrafted piece as a holiday gift. The Holiday Extravaganza will take place at the Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery for the entire month of December.
The Piedmont Craftsmen And Education
The Piedmont Craftsmen champion fine craft and art education. The arts innovate, inspire, and ignite creativity. Bringing the arts to today’s youth creates the art makers, audiences, and collectors of tomorrow. Every year, Piedmont Craftsmen presents Living Craft: Crafting Life, a program that serves over 1,200 students in elementary, middle and high school, and consists of one day in-school fine craft lectures & hands-on artist in residencies. This program, funded by a Wells Fargo Arts in Education grant from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, raises students’ awareness of art as both an avocation and a profession.
The Fine Craft Lectures share knowledge about the craftsmen by discussing their vocational training, skillful techniques & showing examples of their work for K-8 students to hold and discuss.
The Artist In Residencies are designed to provide WS/FC high school art students with an in-depth experience through a grade-specific, hands-on project that incorporates art, math, history, science & English. Through the 4-5 day-long residency, craftsmen demonstrate the feasibility of art as a vocation and the opportunity for lifelong creative learning.
Why Support Piedmont Craftsmen Guild?
Supporting Piedmont Craftsmen means helping keep the art of the handmade alive. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Piedmont Craftsmen relies on those who believe in the value of creativity, tradition, and human connection. Supporting it celebrates craftsmanship, sustains artists who put their hearts and skill into their work, and ensures that future generations can experience the beauty and meaning of objects made by hand. Through exhibitions, education, and community outreach, Piedmont Craftsmen connects people to the makers, the materials, and the stories behind each piece—reminding us why art made by hand still matters in a mass-produced world.
Individuals and corporations can support Piedmont Craftsmen with a one-time or recurring donation. Visit the guild’s support website for more information on why your contribution matters and to donate.
After The Piedmont Craftsmen Fair
Spending the day admiring the crafts, watching the demos, and shopping downtown in Winston-Salem at the Piedmont Craftsmen Fair can leave visitors very hungry. Fortunately, there are numerous excellent downtown restaurants to choose from for a delightful meal and engaging conversation about the amazing handmade crafts you just saw.
