Mission
Handmade Arcade celebrates the cutting edge of craft by connecting creators and consumers through making, sharing, and learning.
About Handmade Arcade
Values
We achieve this by:
- Inspiring creativity and experimentation through the process of making process;
- Supporting creative commerce for local crafters, creative entrepreneurs, and small business owners;
- Honoring the intersection of tradition and innovation;
- Providing an alternative marketplace to mainstream retail; and
- Creating a welcoming atmosphere that promotes inclusivity and diversity.
History
Founded in 2004, Handmade Arcade provides craft-based artists, designers, and makers with opportunities to sell products, build community, network, and share their artistic practice. A pioneer in Pittsburgh’s maker movement, Handmade Arcade bridges the gap between consumers and creators while increasing awareness about handmade, locally produced craft goods and processes.
Handmade Arcade has helped catalyze the flourishing maker movement in Pittsburgh and transform the region’s landscape of small arts and crafts businesses. More than just an award-winning annual event, Handmade Arcade works year-round on a variety of programming that includes:
- Hosting Handmade Arcade, our annual winter convention where over 10,000 attendees converge to shop from a curated group of 200+ makers
- Hosting Show and Sell, our yearly spring event that supports emerging makers with workshops to learn how to sell their wares at a high-profile event
- Building an interactive, reusable virtual marketplace
- Supporting makers of all kinds with our Maker Curriculum, created in partnership with the Creative Business Accelerator
- Working with youth makers, student entrepreneurs, and education groups to encourage the next generation
- Promoting and sharing events and programming produced by a network of community collaborators
From the independent maker who went on to open a storefront to the 16-year-old high school student who launched a line of female empowerment fashions to the family who contributed a knitted square to a public art installation, we know that making things by hand can transform individuals and communities.
Meet the Team
Staff
Tricia Brancolini-Foley
Executive Director
tricia@handmadearcade.org
Consultant
Tara McElfresh
Hands-on Handmade Coordinator
info@handmadearcade.org
Board of Directors
Jackie Baker, President
Rachel Frank, Vice President
Kelsey Ford, Secretary
Robert Dinkelmeyer, Treasurer
Samantha Caruthers
Lindsay Goranson
Maher Hoque
Mia Hooper
Melissa McCabe
Rebecca Morris
Planning Committee
Samantha Bower
Rachel Frank
Al Hoff, Handmade Arcade co-founder
Joyce Ignasky
Michelle Lancet
Elizabeth Prince, Handmade Arcade co-founder
Valerie Snyder
Angela Stubb
2020 Virtual Marketplace Makers
SPONSORS
Una Biologicals
KerfCase
Studebaker Metals
Accessories
Almanac Industries
Busy Hook Happy Heart
Danielle Bernard Design
FeltHappiness
ILoveEnamelPins
knotzland
SISTER EPIC
Adult Clothing
Etna Print Circus
FLUX BENE
Frank and Myrhh
Junkella
Little Birdie Design Studio
Otto Finn
Rebel Bred Clothing
Refresh Collective
Selvedge Rose
Artwork
1flychicken creations
Alternate Histories
Amanda Blake
Amelia Kieras Paper Arts
Baxter & The Bear
BeardFoto
Berkley Illustration
Charlie Wallace
Cowboy Goods
Cuppa Stitches
everyday balloons print shop
Geri Shields Studio
HANNAH JONES ART
Kitschcraft
KLoRebel Art
LaVerne Kemp Studios
mheldillustration
Midnight Hour Stitchery
Red Cottage Fiber Studio
Regal Collars
Shannon Marie Makes
Social Living
South Atlantic Stitching Company
Squirrel Tacos
strawberryluna
Subversive Image
The Rots
Tiltcycle
Tugboat Printshop
Worker Bird
Zooguu
Bath & Body
Hip Modern Soap Co
Island Fresh Skincare
Ritual Soapworks
Southern Hospitality
Triple Moon Alchemy Herb Shop
Wren & Rita
Ceramics
Abby Berkson Ceramics
East Wheeling Clayworks
Emmanuelle Ceramics
Jenna Vanden Brink Ceramics
Jowdy Studio
McDaniel Pottery
Megs LeVesseur Ceramics
Pickled Aliens Pottery LLC
Stak Ceramics
StitchPrism
Children’s Products
2468 Kids
Inclined Designs
Waku Waku Baby
Glass
Jennifer L Worden Arts
Le Puppet Regime LLC
Penn Fairmount
Pittsburgh Glass Center
Studio Glass Company Llc
Housewares
837 North
Aria Bella Candles
Camp Copeland
CJ7 Designs LLC
Erel Fiber Art
jennyjen42
PROPERgoods
Simon’s Granddaughter
Jewelry
Avert Adornments
bel monili by l.marlane
Blakbird Jewelry
Broken Plates
Cindy Liebel Jewelry
Collarbone Jewerly
Electric Cat
Fall Hill Bead and Gem
Generic American Goods
Grove Avenue Design
Huffalo
joeyfivecents
KikiReadsComics
Lily in Flux
Lines and Shapes Jewelry
LUSTER
MetaMorph Jewelry Studio
PetalVision Glass
Sasha
Smart Glass
Sorcery Science
Vandalia Metal
Other
Artifact Metalworks
garbella
Kin of Duncan
Kitty Lou Handmade
Stitches & Sass
Throne Wolf Supply
Transit Apparel
Whimsical Wonders
Yurko Stitch
Paper Goods
ChicalooKate
Eunoia Artworks
Go Carr Go Art Studio
Letterpress Jess
MaeveMade
Papyrusaurus
Print Witchery
Questionable Press
Store (Brick-and-mortar)
Artsmiths of Pittsburgh
love, Pittsburgh
Rebound Designs
Small Mall
Toys
Pennyknot
The Happy Groundhog Studio
Wood
Reconstruct Wood
Wood-N-You Like It
The Daggerfish Gear Co.
Riverwood Trading Co
Youth Makers
BW Creations, Whitehall Elementary
Class Crew, South St. Mary’s Street Elementary
Eagle Pride Productions, South Park High
Flameworks Studio, Northgate Middle & High
Handcrafted Inc., Carmichaels Jr./Sr. High
TJ3D, Jefferson Hills Intermediate