Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen
General Information
| Reading-Berks Chapter, PA Guild of Craftsmen |
| PO Box 85, Mohnton PA 19540 USA |
| Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month (except June & July) at the Goggleworks - Center for the Arts , Reading, Pennsylvania at 7:00 PM |
Directions From 422, take the Penn Street/Reading exit Cross over Penn Street Bridge to 3rd Street Turn left on 3rd Street Cross over Washington Street Go 1/2 a block Turn left in middle of block Take driveway to the GoggleWorks free parking lot at 2nd and Walnut St. |
| You can call us at 610-678-6650 (Voice Mail) for monthly program information. |
| The Reading-Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen was organized in 1945, and is the largest chapter in the state organization. Membership is open to anyone wishing to join. Our purposes are: |
To encourage the study and practice of handcrafts. To uphold the best of traditional and contemporary crafts. To maintain standards of excellence in design and technique. |
| A high level of quality is maintained by having a jurying process which must be passed before participating in any marketing function of the Guild. Instead of a barrier, this critique system should be viewed as an educational tool to help members attain a high level of quality. Many members are nationally recognized artisans in their field, and can be an invaluable source of information and encouragement. |
| We support a broad range of activities. Monthly meetings are held (except July) with a program of special interest and a business meeting. Programs are designed to inform and help the craftsmen, using people from within and outside the Guild. Membership includes both the chapter and state level. A monthly newsletter is published with information about activities and items of interest to members. Currently, we produce two craft shows a year, the Spring Show in March or April at Kutztown University's Field House and the Holiday Craft Show in November at Penn State Berks Campus. We produce the award winning monthly TV show "Your Berks Craftsmen" on BCTV. We host an annual student awards program with monetary awards for Berks County high school seniors, and disburse annual grants to our members for educational use. We sponsor an annual award for the best in traditional work at an exhibition at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, and donate yearly to BCTV and the Penn State scholarship fund. We are also a social group, hosting a summer picnic and a Christmas dinner. |
| All of this is accomplished by volunteers who believe in our aims. If you are interested in joining this dynamic group, email your membership and meeting date inquiries to membership@rbcrafts.org.
For other inquiries, email info@rbcrafts.org |