History of Our Club

Artisans’ Circle is the Northampton County branch of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. Since 1987, we have been dedicated to the support and encouragement of craftspeople and the study of handcrafts. We encourage members to become juried on a local and then state level. Many of our members have attained state-juried status, signifying “excellence in craftsmanship and original, creative design.”

The Jury Process

A panel of members examines your work while considering the following elements: CRAFTSMANSHIP, DESIGN & ORIGINALITY, STYLE and MATERIALS. In each of these categories your work is assigned a score of 1-5 (5 representing the highest score). A total of 20 points is possible; 16 points are necessary to obtain juried status.

The categories defined:

CRAFTSMANSHIP: The work must demonstrate a mastery of more than minimum skills in the craft. It must show an understanding of what is possible with the materials you've chosen and an understanding of what is necessary to create a polished item.

DESIGN & ORIGINALITY: Objects produced from commercial kits are not accepted for jurying. If you make reproduction items such as furniture or Shaker-style baskets, the work must demonstrate an understanding of appropriate materials, colors and proportions. Otherwise, the work will be judged on how well the function of the objects is enhanced by your choice of design and materials.

STYLE: Your personal style should be apparent in the work to be juried. This is the crucial element which sets your work apart from that of others in this medium. It demonstrates that you have begun to develop a unique sense of color or a special understanding of your materials. If you work in a traditional medium or create reproductions of traditional crafts, your style should demonstrate an understanding of the way in which color, proportion, and materials define this medium.

MATERIALS: The materials used should be of the highest quality appropriate for the function of these objects. Commercially produced elements may not comprise a major percentage of any work.