Fitton celebrates national crafts

Hamilton, Ohio – The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is thrilled to be part of Handwork 2026, a national initiative organized by Craft in America that celebrates the power of making and the communities built through craft.

Craft in America announced the launch Thursday, November 13. Handwork 2026 nods to the country's semiquincentennial celebration by weaving together 250 years of American history through craft and handmade traditions.

NAACP, a Women of Color Quilters Network quilt by Sharon Kerry-Harlan.

In the summer of 2026, the Fitton Center hosts "The Soul of Black Folks: 250 Years of Creativity, Leadership and Innovation," a brand-new collection of 50 story quilts created by the Women of Color Quilters Network, an exhibition curated by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi.

In fact, Dr. Mazloomi – a curator, quilter, author, art historian and advocate for presenting African American quilts (to say nothing of her work as an aerospace engineer) – is one of the national advisors for the Handwork 2026 initiative.

“A project that lets the Fitton Center collaborate with respected national organizations through craft and culture and share that with our community is a special treat,” said Fitton Center Director of Exhibitions Cathy Mayhugh. “We are honored to be partnering with Dr. Mazloomi to once again fill our galleries with the powerfully engaging narrative quilts of WCQN.”

Stay tuned for more details, but meantime learn more about all the participating exhibitions and programs at handwork2026.org.

The Fitton Center joins more than 250 arts organizations across the country hosting exhibitions and events throughout 2026 to showcase the importance of the handmade throughout our country’s history and in contemporary life. The Fitton Center is one of only three Ohio institutions participating in Handwork 2026, along with the Toledo Museum of Art and the Ohio Craft Museum in Columbus.

“As a regional art center, the Fitton Center for Creative Arts is incredibly proud to continue to deliver outstanding exhibitions and events at a national and international level,” said Executive Director Ian MacKenzie-Thurley. “Not many organizations of our size can comfortably share the stage with the Smithsonian and other big-name organizations.

“Cathy Mayhugh has cultivated a reputation for excellence over the years that gives us a seat at the table. This is reflected in partnerships that we see with Dr. Mazloomi and the Women of Quilters Network. This is going to be a powerful exhibition.”

Craft in America celebrates the diversity of the crafts that define the country, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.

Its Peabody Award-winning series airs four special episodes – EAST, WEST, NORTH and SOUTH - devoted to Handwork 2026 beginning in December. The programs tell part of the story via a journey around the United States starting with EAST and WEST premiering at 9 and 10 p.m., respectively, Friday, December 19, on PBS and Youtube.

(Catch them streaming starting November 24 on the PBS app, at pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org.)

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture