MINNEAPOLIS, MN.- The American Craft Council announced that it’s launching its newly redesigned American Craft magazine. The magazine’s new editor, Karen Olson, helped reimagine the award-winning publication, which will be released in four issues per year, following the themes: Nourish, Flourish, Kinship, and Wonder. In addition to taking on a fresh, modern look, the magazine’s content will focus on telling the stories of the people, processes, and materials behind the craft community.

The restyled magazine examines how craft and its artists shape American life with a focus on visual storytelling. The publication will include three main sections: (1) New + Noteworthy, (2) a series of feature articles, and (3) The Crafted Life, which highlights the voices of artists themselves offering insight, advice, and experiences both in and out of the studio.

“With the magazine’s 80th anniversary this fall, we felt it was time to bring new life to the stories that are essential to the American craft community,” said Sarah Schultz, executive director of ACC. “As an organization, we are always seeking ways to remain relevant and the team prides itself on innovation and transforming the way we share stories, and I think you will see that we did just that with the redesign of American Craft magazine.”

The first issue of American Craft, “Nourish,” features stories that explore contemporary craft culture and the various ways craft not only nourishes the soul but also helps support and grow communities. Pieces in the Spring issue include “Crafting a Culture of Care,” a look at how “care” is infused in craft, and what craft can teach us about care today; “From Sheep to Blanket,” a visual story that shows the process of sheep to handwoven blanket at the Nordt Family Farm in Virginia; “Circle of Knowledge,” a story about community mentorship, as artist and curator Tamara Aupaumut shares the story of three Ojibwe makers from Minnesota and Wisconsin who came together during the pandemic to share skills and knowledge; and “Nourishing Objects,” another visual piece featuring members of the maker community—curator Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy, ceramist Adam Chau, and community organizer PJ Gubatina Policarpio—sharing stories of craft objects that nourish them.

“In recognizing the importance of the magazine’s history and the stories it tells, we worked to create something that allows our readers to dive even deeper into American craft and be fully immersed in the lives of the artists, ultimately nourishing creativity, curiosity, and exploration,” said Schultz.

ACC will publish American Craft quarterly with issues in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter of 2021.