HOUSTON, TX.- Houston Center for Contemporary Craft announced the organization will celebrate its 25th “silver” anniversary in 2026 through an exciting schedule of exhibitions, programs, and special events, as well as an array of partnerships and collaborations.
Located in the Houston Museum District, HCCC is a nonprofit arts center with a mission to inspire and connect people to the art and process of making. As one of the few organizations in the nation dedicated exclusively to fine contemporary craft, the Center’s focus is on art objects made of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and mixed media. HCCC showcases emerging and acclaimed artists in exhibitions, engages visitors of all ages with hands-on programming, and supports the development of working artists through artist residency and retail programs to serve as a dynamic hub at the intersection of craft and contemporary culture.
On September 22, 2001, HCCC opened its doors with the exhibition, Defining Craft I, and six resident artists working in its studios. Since then, the Center has supported working craft artists at all stages of their careers through nearly 200 artist residencies and more than 200 innovative exhibitions. Through free admission and educational programs like Hands-on Houston and Craft Community Day, as well as adult workshops and lectures, HCCC has served more than 350,000 visitors, allowing individuals of all ages to explore the variety of materials and processes used in contemporary craft.
In 2026, HCCC will continue to amplify its local and national impact through collaborations with community groups and institutions. Locally, HCCC will work with groups such as ALMAAHH (Advocates of a Latino Museum of Cultural and Visual Arts & Archive Complex in Houston, Harris County), Arts Connect Houston, DACAMERA, FLATS, Fresh Arts, Houston Center for Photography, Islamic Arts Festival, MFAH’s Glassell School of Art, Untitled Art, and numerous artist guilds.
National and international partnerships include projects with Craft in America, the American Craft Council (ACC), and Steinbeisser. Through its spring/summer exhibition, Clutch City Craft, HCCC will participate in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national semi-quincentennial initiative organized by Craft in America and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Handwork highlights the importance of the handmade and celebrates the diversity of the crafts that define America, while bringing compelling stories and underrepresented artists into the spotlight. HCCC will also join ACC’s Passport to Craft Collaboration, a network of museums, schools, guilds, and marketplaces who share in the Council’s mission to celebrate and sustain craft, to help build a national craft ecosystem. In the fall, HCCC is honored to partner with Steinbeisser—the visionary, Amsterdam-based, experimental gastronomy studio—to present a landmark culinary and craft experience celebrating HCCC’s 25th anniversary.
HCCC Executive Director Leila Cartier commented, “We are looking forward to hosting our beloved colleagues, patrons, and the greater community to enjoy these celebratory and extraordinary events. The Board of Directors is also very busy behind the scenes to ensure this year is memorable—building on the exceptional work of HCCC’s staff, curators, artists, and greater networks—and catalytic for the organization in the many years to come.”
2026 Season Highlights
Clutch City Craft, February 28 – August 8, 2026
Part of the Handwork 2026 national initiative, this major group exhibition examines the craft traditions and material cultures that have shaped Houston into one of the nation’s most formidable centers of making. The show features a wide spectrum of making practices, from the artists behind century-old, mosaic street signs to cowboy boot makers and fiber artists who design space suits and preserve the woven interiors of NASA mission control.
Cups for Y’All, March 21 – June 6, 2026
This combined exhibition and sale offers collectors and the general public the opportunity to purchase functional cups and vessels by some of the most innovative ceramic artists working today.
Crafting a Legacy Spring Luncheon Honoring Sara Morgan, April 30, 2026
Chaired by Lee & Mel Eagle, Melanie Lawson & John Guess, and Judy Nyquist, HCCC’s annual spring fundraiser will honor the Center’s co-founder and founding board president, Sara Morgan, and celebrate the milestone anniversary.
Iconoglass and Material Inheritance: Silver Anniversary
September 5, 2026 – January 30, 2027
Iconoglass is the first exhibition to examine stained glass in a contemporary context, positioning it as a sculptural and conceptual medium that extends beyond its ecclesiastical history. Material Inheritance features contemporary silversmiths and jewelers whose work affirms the continued relevance of silversmithing in the evolving landscape of contemporary craft.
Hands-on Houston 25th Birthday Celebration, September 5, 2026
Visitors of all ages can participate in birthday-themed hands-on activities, explore the exhibitions on view, and enjoy birthday cake at this free community celebration.
Silver Anniversary Dinner, October TBD, 2026
Bringing Steinbeisser’s renowned format to Houston for the first time, HCCC will pair celebrated chefs with acclaimed craft artists to create an immersive dining experience grounded in material innovation and the handmade. All handwrought tableware will be available for purchase, offering guests the rare opportunity to take home a piece of this exceptional collaboration and fundraising event.
Craft Community Day, November 7, 2026
Visitors are invited to learn about craft through artist demonstrations and activities at this free festival highlighting local artist guilds and community groups.
Asher: Off the Wall
HCCC’s year-round retail program offers a curated selection of jewelry, ceramics, paper goods, and other unique gifts, as well as opportunities to acquire fine studio craft. A portion of all proceeds supports working craft artists from Houston and beyond.
