ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

October 1, 2023

Life is full of transitions, changes and new adventures. The same experience goes for the CraftSummer as well. Through the 47 years that CraftSummer has been around, we have gone through many changes, challenges, and growths on the road to where we are today.

Nearly 50 years ago CraftSummer was started as a way for graduate students to experience processes, techniques, and instructors outside of the traditional school year curriculum. It quickly grew into a program that could also fit the needs of Ohio art teachers to gain new skills for the classroom and acquire credit for professional advancement. In recent years, we have evolved to include classes and attendance options inviting non-credit seeking artists—both beginners and professionals. We also expanded into offering workshops throughout the year instead of only during the summer. Even during Covid, we were able to quickly pivot and create an online program to provide much of the same CraftSummer experiences via live, web-based workshops with surprising success.

This has been a continually evolving and rewarding process. Since 1976, we have served the needs of well over 5,000 participants from all around the United States and many international participants as well. With many of our students returning year after year, CraftSummer has been like a joyfully anticipated annual family reunion. And it has felt the same for those of us on staff.

We again find ourselves in a place of transition. CraftSummer will be taking a pause for the time being to re-evaluate and explore new avenues to best meet the needs of our clientele, serve the mission of the university, and be financially viable in these challenging times.

While this is not a permanent goodbye, I would like to acknowledge the significant contributions by so many people that have made CraftSummer be the very special program and experience it has been through the years. As director of CraftSummer for the last 23 years, I wish to express how deeply impacted I have been by the relationships that have developed with participants, instructors, student employees, and my co-workers. Through CraftSummer, I have met the most amazing artists, graduate students and instructors. I’ve made deep friendships and have been forever changed and enriched by the amazing experience.

On behalf of all who have worked with this very special program, I say thank you for your support and interest in CraftSummer. We will use our email list, social media and website to inform our participants and interested artists of future developments.

Best to all and Art On!

With deep appreciation,
Ron Stevens
Director