The painterly, expressive embroidery that emerging artist and recent Get Ready grantee Amber Mustafic creates is as visually stunning as it is introspective. Amber is a first-generation Muslim Albanian-Montenegrin who uses embroidery to create imagery that reflects her daydreams, fantasies and emotional experiences. Her personal approach to embroidery also celebrates her family’s cultural heritage. She […]

If you are an artist who does not yet have business insurance, you are not alone. Of the 219 artists in the United States who have applied for CERF+’s Emergency Relief grants since 2018, only 67 (or 23.4%) reported that they had business insurance. But, this doesn’t mean you don’t need it. Laura is a […]

June is Studio Safety Month, and CERF+ will be opening the next cycle of Get Ready Grants on June 15 to artists working in craft disciplines to conduct activities that will help safeguard their studios, protect their careers and prepare for emergencies.  This month, we feature James Aevermann, a blacksmith and metalsmith in Mangilao, Guam. […]

Spring elicits a welcome sense of anticipation and rejuvenation with its warmer temperatures and bustling activities. At CERF+, we are excited for the thousands of artists returning to shows and open studio events across the country, many for the first time since the pandemic began. For this month’s blog, we spoke with contemporary jeweler Lorena […]

The news about climate change is dire and mired in politics. Earlier this month, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated, “We are on a fast track to climate disaster: Major cities underwater. Unprecedented heat waves. Terrifying storms. Widespread water shortages. The extinction of a million species of plants and animals. This is not fiction or […]

Puerto Rican culture is filled with remarkably creative individuals who are committed to art and enhancing its visibility for audiences around the world. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and recent, severe storms and earthquakes, many Puerto Ricans have taken action to promote and share their vibrant arts and culture with the world. In celebration […]

Crafting the Future is a nonprofit organization with the goal of diversifying the fields of art, craft, and design. Its central mission is to create an inclusive craft culture by connecting BIPOC artists with opportunities and networks that will help them thrive. Founded in 2018 by Corey Pemberton, Annie Evelyn, and a group of likeminded […]

SoHarlem is an innovative non-profit organization that focuses on rebuilding the creative arts industry in Harlem by providing opportunities to residents and artisans. Founded by Janet Rodriquez in 2011, SoHarlem strives to combat the adverse effects of gentrification on the community. Rodriguez recognized that while gentrification provided significant economic opportunities for newcomers, it impacted Harlem’s […]

In early January, CERF+ launched the 2022 Get Ready Challenge to help artists be more prepared. Here is a recap of the month featuring some of the artists who completed the challenge. It’s not too late to join in! We encourage all artists to take four simple, but important steps this month.   Week 1: […]

Studio injuries and scars were once heralded as badges of bravado, but over the past several years, universities, craft schools, and individual artists have started focusing on improving studio safety and avoiding injury. Efforts include addressing fire hazards, upgrading ventilation systems, and methodically training students about safety. Risky practices that were acceptable 30 years ago […]