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
Karyme Garzón Mahmud, Vice President
Maher Hoque, Secretary
Tracy Lucas, Treasurer
Samantha Caruthers
Rachel Stasny Frank
Lindsay Goranson
Mia Hooper
Shannon Parris
Shannon Richardson
Advisory Committee
Samantha Bower
Joyce Ignasky
Michelle Lancet
Valerie Snyder
Emmanuelle Wambach