;port #13
Craft Artist Membership
rganizations 1978
National Endowmc
for the Arts
Research Division
January 1981
■
il
ii
il
Craft Artist Membership
Organizations 1978
National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, D.C.
This report is produced by the Publishing
Center for Cultural Resources as part of
a pilot project supported by the National
Endowment for the Arts demonstrating econ-
omy and efficiency in nonprofit publishing .
The Publishing Center's planning, production,
and distribution services are available to
all nonprofit cultural and educational or-
ganizations. For further information write
Publishing Center, 625 Broadway, New York
City 10012, or telephone 212/260-2010.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
National Endowment for the Arts . Research
Division.
Craft artist membership organizations, 1978.
(National Endowment for the Arts . Research
Division. Research Division report ; 13)
1. Handicraft — United States — Societies,
etc. I. Title. II. Series.
TT23.N35 1981 745'.06'073 80-21535
ISBN 0-89062-089-X (pbk.)
Manufactured in the United States of America
CONTENTS
PREFACE /page 4
LIST OF TABLES /page 5
LIST OF FIGURES /page 6
INTRODUCTION
Summary /page 7
Methodology /page 8
CHAPTER I
MEMBERSHIP
Location /page 11
Craft media of members /page 12
Membership size /page 19
Members' professionalism /page 21
CHAPTER II
ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Corporate status /page 26
Staff and facilities /page 29
Funding sources and expenditure levels /page 29
Problems /page 33
CHAPTER III
DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
Longevity /page 34
Geographic focus /page 36
Congruence of purpose and activities /page 3 8
CHAPTER IV
REVIEW BY MEDIUM AND REGION /page 41
APPENDIX A
CALCULATION OF ORGANIZED CRAFT ARTISTS BY MEDIUM /page 47
APPENDIX B
REGIONS AND DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTRY AS DEFINED BY U.S. CENSUS BUREAU /page 51
REPORTS IN THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS RESEARCH DIVISION SERIES /page 5 2
PREFACE
This report is part of a multi-project study
aimed at developing a better understanding
of American craft artists. The first part
was a planning study to determine the feas-
ibility of and methodology for a national
survey of craft artists. The results of
this effort were summarized in Research
Division Report #2, To Survey American
Crafts; A Planning Study (see list at the
back of this report) . One of the recom-
mendations of this initial planning study
was that a nationwide survey of craft artist
membership organizations should precede the
study of individual artists because their
membership lists could serve as the basis
for sampling a large part of the craft artist
population in a way that would insure re-
presentation from the less popular craft
media as well as from the very popular
media such as the fiber arts and ceramics.
This publication, which results from the
survey of craft organizations , provides in-
formation that has not been available be-
fore on the variety and spread of craft
media, location of craft organizations, and
their activities and membership sizes. The
contractor's full report (Results from a
National Survey of Crafts Membership Or-
ganizations by Constance F. Citro, Penelope
Engel, and Audrey McDonald, Washington,
D.C.: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.,
1979) also includes recommendations for
use in studying craft artists who are mem-
bers of the organizations surveyed. (Sev-
eral additional studies have also been
undertaken to provide data about United
States craft artists who do not belong to
an organization.) The complete report is
available to all interested persons at the
library of the National Endowment for the
Arts, where it may be examined or borrowed
through interlibrary loan. Loan informa-
tion may be obtained from the librarian,
National Endowment for the Arts, 2401 E
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506
(202/634-7640) .
Research Division
National Endowment for the Arts
January 1981
LIST OF TABLES
1 Media among single-medium and general-media organizations /page 14
2 Primary medium among national and regional organizations /page 16
3 Membership of national and regional organizations /page 18
4 Size of organization by primary medium /page 20
5 Activities of national and regional organizations /page 20
6 Organizational activities by primary medium /page 22
7 Organizational activities by membership size /page 22
8 Corporate status, personnel, and facilities of national and regional
organizations /page 26
9 Corporate status, personnel, and facilities by primary medium /page 27
10 Corporate status, personnel, and facilities by membership size /page 27
11 1977 funding sources of national and regional organizations /page 28
12 Number of funding sources by membership size /page 28
13 1977 expenditures of national and regional organizations /page 31
14 Expenditures by primary medium /page 31
15 Years in existence by membership size /page 35
16 Organizational activities by years in existence /page 34
17 Geographic focus of regional organizations /page 37
18 Geographic focus by primary medium /page 37
19 Geographic focus by membership size /page 39
20 Organizational activities by whom intended for /page 39
21 Congruence of purpose and activities /page 40
22 Media among organizations and artists /page 46
23 Media subcategories among organizations and artists /page 4 8
LIST OF FIGURES
I Regional distribution of 1,218 craft membership organizations /page 10
II Number of organizations by state /page 11
III Regional distribution of organizations, craft artists, and the
working-age population /page 13
IV Regional orientation to a single medium /page 15
V Membership size of craft organizations /page 18
VI Regional jury requirement for membership /page 25
VII Jury requirement for membership by primary medium /page 25
VIII 1977 expenditures of craft organizations /page 30
IX Number of serious problems /page 32
X Problems of craft organizations /page 32
XI Years in existence /page 34
XII Geographic focus of craft organizations /page 36
XIII Stated purpose of craft organizations /page 38
INTRODUCTION
This report uses data collected in a nation-
wide survey of craft organizations with a
double purpose: to obtain key information
for selecting a sample of individual craft
artists belonging to organizations as well
as to provide a reliable picture of the
range of craft membership organizations
and their role in the craft world. The sur-
vey was completed in 1978 with responses
from almost 950 organizations, or close to
80 percent of the total. This report de-
scribes what has been learned about craft
membership organizations.
As a result of the survey a broad-brush por-
trait of craft membership organizations in
the United States emerges. The typical
(median) craft membership organization has
been in existence for about 10 years and has
about 90 members who come from the local area
and are accepted without prior screening of
their work. Not all of its members work in
the same medium, but the majority work with
clay and fiber. It is involved in craft
exhibits, sales, and workshops — all open
to the general public — and social functions
for members. It is a nonprofit corporation
that owns or rents facilities and has an
annual budget of about $3,50 0 — with income
largely from membership dues and proceeds
of sales. It perceives few problems, but if
it had to pinpoint a particular need, would
ask for additional funding and more dis-
play and storage space.
This profile reflects the central tenden-
cies in the survey data, but of course it
is also true that craft membership organi-
zations are represented in the full range
of each variable. There are some large
organizations, some offer courses as well
as workshops, some require jurying of work
for all members, and some perceive numer-
ous problems. The definition of "typical"
shifts considerably in terms of location
and medium.
Summary
Voluntary craft organizations are formed
to serve the needs and interests of their
members, and there are clearly some common-
sense expectations concerning their ef-
fectiveness that can be verified by the
results of the survey. These expectations
relate primarily to membership size. Other
things being equal, one would expect that
large organizations would have existed
longer than small ones. One would expect
that more large organizations would be in-
corporated, have paid staff, own or rent
facilities, carry out more activities, and
have more sources of funds than small ones.
One would also expect larger organizations
to constitute a greater proportion of those
with regional, national, or international
membership than those with state or local
membership. Cross-tabulations of variables
by membership size generally confirm these
expectations. The same variables have also
been cross-tabulated by geographic location
and craft media popularity among members.
Beyond considerations of size, location, and
media preferences , responses to the survey
questionnaire provide information on how
long craft organizations have been in exist-
ence, the activities they undertake, where
members come from, and member qualifications
and acceptance criteria, as well as broader
data about funding and expenses, organiza-
tional structure, staffing, facilities, and
problems.
The survey reveals that the largest propor-
tion of the estimated 1,218 craft member-
ship organizations in the United States
today and their estimated 3 80,000 members
is located in the five East North Central
states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,
and Wisconsin) , the second largest propor-
tion being located in the five Pacific
states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon,
and Washington) . The percentages are pro-
portionate with these areas ' share of the
working-age (18 to 64 years old) population,
but this is not the case in other parts of
the country. In terms of craft artists
relative to persons aged 18 to 64, the New
England and East South Central states have
the highest proportions and the South At-
lantic and Middle Atlantic the lowest.
Over 6 0 percent of responding organizations
indicated that they are not oriented to a
single craft medium but rather are general-
media organizations. Of the single-medium
groups, nearly two-thirds are organizations
of fiber artists (weavers, embroiderers,
quiltmakers, etc.). While organizations
with national or international membership
are predominantly single-medium groups , the
reverse is true for those with local or
regional membership. Among general-media
organizations, clay was listed first by the
largest number.
When the first listing of the general-media
organizations and the specific medium of
single-medium organizations are considered
jointly, fiber emerges as the "primary me-
dium" of 42 percent of craft membership
organizations and clay as the primary medium
of 4 0 percent. Metal, wood, and other me-
dia are each seen as the primary medium of
about 4 to 6 percent and glass, leather,
paper, and multimedia, as the primary me-
dium of 2 percent or fewer.
Fiber is the primary medium of 38 to 48 per-
cent of craft membership organizations in
all parts of the country except the four
West South Central states and New England.
Clay is the primary medium of almost half
the organizations in the West South Cen-
tral area, and it is the primary medium of
35 to 45 percent of organizations in all
parts of the country except the seven West
North Central states. Both fiber and clay
are the primary medium for smaller propor-
tions of organizations with national or
international membership than local or re-
gional ones.
Metal, more often than elsewhere, was named
as primary medium in the eight Mountain
states, and it is not reported as a primary
medium in the West North Central area. Wood
organizations are particularly numerous in
the East South Central states; leather is
the primary medium of more organizations in
the West North Central states than elsewhere.
The survey showed that exhibiting and market-
ing of crafts, and craft workshops are the
most prevalent activities undertaken by craft
membership organizations. Social functions
are of much lesser importance. National
organizations report the highest propor-
tionate involvement in publications and the
lowest in sales among all organizations.
Marketing activities are most important in
New England; workshops are most important
in the Middle Atlantic states.
Jury review as a prerequisite to membership
is imposed by 3 0 percent of craft member-
ship organizations. New England has the
largest proportion (45 percent) with a jury
requirement. The proportion drops to 30
percent in the South Atlantic states and
to 10 percent in the West South Central
states. Metal organizations tend to have the
most stringent admission criteria; leather,
multimedia, and other media organizations
have the most open membership policies.
The survey results indicate that over 60 per-
cent of craft membership organizations are
incorporated and that 8 5 percent of these
are nonprofit and tax-exempt. A majority
receives funding from only one or two sources.
Only one-third have paid officers or staff,
only 20 percent own facilities, and less
than one-third spent more than $10,000 in
1977.
More than half of th
ganizations have be
least 10 years and
years old. The serv
the activities they
ly available to the
most reserve social
tions for members.
e craft membership or-
en in existence for at
8 5 percent are over five
ices they provide and
engage in are frequent-
general public although
functions and publica-
Few craft membership organizations perceive
themselves as having many problems and near-
ly one-half reported only one or two. In-
adequate funds and inadequate display or
storage space were cited most frequently.
Despite the small scale of their operations,
craft membership organizations in the United
States today appear to be thriving and re-
port a wide range of activities. The or-
ganizations are more important in some parts
of the country and for craft artists working
in certain specific media. There is also
evidence that accelerated formation of craft
organizations occurred five to ten years
ago and a current tendency is toward con-
solidation rather than expansion.
Methodology
The craft membership organizations survey
was planned as a census of all known organi-
zations rather than as a sampling. Mail sur-
vey procedures were used. A master mailing
list of organizations developed from di-
rectories was reviewed for completeness by
consultants from the crafts field.
All organizations on the master mailing list
were sent an advance letter from the Arts
Endowment in early May 1978 to inform them
of the survey and ask them to return a post-
card with address correction or to request
removal from the list if not a craft mem-
bership organization. The questionnaire was
mailed shortly thereafter. The original
list was augmented with names suggested by
respondents.
The result of the survey effort was 947 com-
pleted questionnaires representative of a
total estimated universe of about 1,200
craft membership organizations.
The planning study conducted for the Arts
Endowment in 1976 produced a range of esti-
mates of craft artists belonging to organ-
izations in the United States — the high
estimate at about 350,000 and the low about
250,000. The craft membership organizations
survey indicates that the figure is probably
closer to 3 80,000. The planning study fig-
ures were based on an estimated 1,700 craft
membership organizations in the United States.
Information on membership size of about 250
organizations listed in Contemporary Crafts
Marketplace (the American Crafts Council
directory) was used to extrapolate member-
ship of a larger national group. A cross-
check of the membership lists of about two
dozen organizations against the mailing
list of the American Crafts Council indi-
cated a need for adjustment for individuals
belonging to several organizations. The
highest planning study estimate of 350,000
individuals used national average member-
ship size and an estimated percentage of
membership overlap applied to the number
of organizations in each of the nine geo-
graphic divisions defined by the United
States Bureau of the Census. The lowest
planning study estimate made a further
adjustment on the grounds that Contemporary
Crafts Marketplace included a dispropor-
tionate number of organizations with more
than 500 members.
The new national estimate of 380,000 craft
artists reflects the same adjustment proce-
dures that produced the planning study es-
timates, and one must look to the data used
to explain the differences. Some data ele-
ments were the same; notably, the estimates
of organizational overlap. However, the
survey of organizations produced different
estimates of the numbers and geographic
distribution of craft membership organi-
zations and a different picture of their
membership size.
Because survey respondents averaged fewer
than 20 organizations per state, the find-
ings were more broadly organized to accord
with the four regions and nine divisions
of the country as defined by the United
States Bureau of the Census.
The survey estimated the number of craft
membership organizations in the United
States as less than the planning study —
1,218 groups compared to 1,692. The survey
also showed a much larger proportion in the
East North Central area and a considerably
smaller proportion in the East South Cen-
tral states. The smaller estimated universe
is based on intensive efforts to determine
the status of each organization on the master
mailing list. It is also based on the as-
sumption that nonresponding organizations
include the same proportion of "not craft"
organizations as the responding ones. The
planning study list, in contrast, included
many "not craft" organizations that could
not be weeded out with the information on
hand at that time. The geographic area
differences are similarly explained by the
fact that the proportion of craft to "not
craft" organizations was much higher in
the East North Central area and much low-
er in the East South Central area than
the average for the country.
Other factors being equal, the overall ef-
fect of a smaller estimate of craft mem-
bership organizations would be to lower
the estimated number of craft artists. The
reason the new estimate is higher than any
of the planning study figures is that the
survey revealed a considerable increase in
membership size. Average membership of
regional, state, and local organizations
listed in the Contemporary Crafts Market-
place used in the initial phase of the plan-
ning study was 194 craft artists; the av-
erage for organizations with regional,
state, or local membership responding to
the survey was 299. In addition, there were
more national organizations responding to
the survey than were included in the plan-
ning study data, so that the average for
all organizations in the survey is over
400 members.
Figure I
Regional distribution of
1,218 craft membership
organizations
i
10
I
CHAPTER I
MEMBERSHIP
Who are the people who belong to craft mem-
bership organizations? The survey does shed
considerable light on where they live, their
preferred media, and how many of them there
are. It also tells something about standards
— whether their interests (as evidenced by
the activities of their organizations) are
primarily to sell or exhibit their crafts,
improve their skills, or keep in contact
and socialize with like-minded persons, and
whether their membership depended on having
had work reviewed by a jury of peers.
Location
Figure I represents regional distribution
of craft membership organizations in the
United States in 1978. The largest number —
just over 30 percent — is located in the
South; each of the three other regions has
between 22 and 2 5 percent. Among regional
subdivisions, the highest concentration of
craft organizations — over 18 percent — is
in the East North Central division and the
second highest — over 13 percent — is in the
Pacific division. The areas with smallest
concentrations are in the West North Cen-
tral and West South Central divisions and
the Mountain division — none of which ac-
counts for more than 9 percent of the total.
In Figure II the mean number of organiza-
tions per state is 24; the median number is
18 — half the states having fewer organiza-
tions than this number and half more. Both
median and mean are significantly increased
by a few states with large numbers of or-
ganizations— California, New York, Ohio, and
Michigan.
Figure II
Number of organizations
by state
11
How does the distribution of organizations
translate into distribution of craft artists?
Figure III relates regional distribution
of craft membership organizations to both
craftspersons who could be identified by
geographic area and the distribution of the
general working-age population (18 to 64
years old). While the 306,000 individual
artists accounted for here are all members
of organizations, an additional 69,000 craft
artists belong to groups which indicated
their membership was primarily national or
international rather than regional, state,
or local. The source for the 128,594,000
working-age population is the U.S. Bureau
of the Census , Provisional Estimates of the
Population of States by Age: July 1977.
Figure III demonstrates a widespread dif-
ference between concentration of craft art-
ists and their member organizations. It
also shows that some areas of the country
have significantly greater or smaller pro-
portions of craft artists than would be
expected in relation to the area's general
population. New England — with 10 percent
of the organizations — has almost 15 percent
of estimated craft artists but less than
6 percent of the working-age population.
The East South Central states — also with
10 percent of the organizations — have more
craftspersons (11 percent) than their 6 per-
cent share of the general population war-
rants. In the case of the Mountain states ,
the percentage of craft organizations is
also almost double that of the working pop-
ulation, yet the percentage of craft artists
is not substantially higher. This phenom-
enon reflects the small size of the craft
organizations in this region. In the Middle
Atlantic and South Atlantic states, on the
other hand, craftspersons and their organ-
izations are relatively few in proportion
to the general population.
Craft media of members
The survey of craft membership organizations
asked two general questions about the kinds
of media or materials members work with.
Was the organization oriented to one spe-
cific craft medium or was it a general-
media organization? Respondents for single-
medium organizations were asked to name the
medium; respondents for general-media or-
ganizations were asked to list up to five
media in which they knew members worked in
order of popularity. A total of 914 organ-
izations responded to these questions, and
nine broad medium categories — fiber, clay,
metal, wood, glass, leather, paper, other me-
dia, and multimedia — emerged. By far the
greatest proportion of respondents were
general-media organizations, constituting
61.6 percent of the total as opposed to
38.4 percent single-medium respondents. Of
the general-media organizations, 2 6.7 per-
12
Figure
Regional distribution of organizations, craft artists, and the working-age population
Regional craft organizations (N = 1,149)
Craft artists belonging to regional organizations (N = 305,893)
1977 working-age population (18 to 64 years old) (N = 128,594,000)
;heast
New England
10.0%
14.7%
imm&mmmmmmmmM
7%%
H
I
Middle Atlantic
/
..... . 7
"I 1 B 9r X*X*X*X*X*
•^^^^^^^^•^^^^^^^^^^^^SSk
13. 0% ::::::::::::
".^WWmmmmmmmMMmmtWWW&S
North Central
18.1%
East North Central
17.0%
18.9%
4
^
West North Central
7.0%
4.9%
7.6%
•>:•:•:•:•:•:■
W
South
South Atlantic
12. 4% E
9.9%
15.9%
y
w
East South Central
10.3%
10.8%
6.3%
m
West South Central
7.9?
7.7?
9.8?
{fffff. :::*.::*
West
Mountain
/—
9.1% :|:|:;
mm
mm
^mmmmmm
5.1% ::::
4.6%^;
H
W//A
■M)
Pacific
13.3%
16.1%
13.9%
1
13
Table 1
Media among single-medium and general-media organizations
_
Medium
Single-medium
organizations
General-media
organizations
Primary
medium
First
medium
listing
Second
medium
listing
Fiber
64.7%
27.9%
43.9%
42.0%
Clay
23.4%
50.1%
18.4%
39.8%
Metal
2.3%
4.8%
11.9%
3.8%
Wood
2.8%
6 . 2%
10.5%
4.9%
Glass
2.0%
2.0%
4.5%
2.0%
Leather
0.9%
0.5%
2.6%
0.7%
Paper
0.6%
0.5%
0.7%
0.5%
Other media
1.7%
5.7%
4.3%
4.2%
Multimedia
1.7%
2.3%
J • ,3 *6
2.1%
Responses (N)
(351)
(563)
(538)
(914)
14
cent listed five media, 16 . 6 percent listed
four, 9.3 percent listed three, and 2.7
percent named a single medium.
Table 1 shows the relative standing of the
nine broad categories among both single-med-
ium and general-media organizations. Per-
centages here and in following tables and
figures are based on the number of organ-
izations responding to questions rather
than the total estimated universe of 1, 218 .
The column headed "primary medium" repre-
sents combined responses of single-medium
organizations and first listings of general-
media organizations. Clearly, fiber and
clay are the predominant media of organized
craftspersons . Almost two-thirds of single-
medium organizations are comprised of such
fiber artists as weavers, embroiderers, and
quiltmakers. Fiber is second to clay as
the first listing of general-media organi-
zations but is listed most frequently as
their second most popular medium. The pat-
tern for clay, which claims the attention
of less than one-quarter of single-medium
groups, is just the reverse. Clay crafts —
including ceramics, porcelain, and china
painting — are first in popularity but run
a distant second among the general media
organizations. These findings suggest that
fiber artists have formed cohesive associ-
ations and that persons involved with clay
crafts tend to be members of general-media
organizations along with other types of
craft artists.
None of the remaining seven broad media types
accounts for more than 3 percent of single-
medium organizations or more than 6 percent
of first mentions by general-media organi-
zations, although metal and wood are each
listed second by over 10 percent of general
groups. Generally, craft artists working
in these seven media are more frequently
found as members of general-media organi-
zations rather than single-medium organi-
zations. This is especially true of the
other media (which include plastic, ivory,
tole, candles, egg decor, and bread). It
is also true of the multimedia listings
(which include dolls and toys, clothing,
nature crafts, and beach crafts) .
It is useful to know how many individual
craft artists work in each of these media.
Appendix A to this report shows how esti-
mates were developed.
Figure IV depicts relative organizational
focus. Clearly, organizations with a nation-
al or international membership are predom-
inantly oriented to a single medium — almost
60 percent. Among regional organizations,
single-medium orientation accounts for about
35 to 45 percent of the organizations except
in New England and the East and West South
Central states, with less than 30 percent.
Figure IV
Regional orientation
to a single medium
Pacific
Percent
15
Table 2
Primary medium among national and regional organizations
Organizations
Fiber
Clay
Metal
Wood
Glass
National
31.9%
29.2%
6.9%
b • 3 "6
5.6%
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
33.7%
45.0%
45.7%
45.0%
7.6%
3.0%
5.4%
3.0%
Z « /. ~6
North Central region
East North Central
West North Central
44.6%
46.8%
41.9%
27.4%
2.7%
3.4%
4.8%
2.7%
1.6%
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
45.8%
48.7%
29.8%
45.8%
47.4%
0.9%
1.8%
4.7%
10.5%
5.3%
0.9%
2.6%
West region
Mountain
Pacific
38.2%
46.8%
39.5%
J J • J"6
9.2%
5.6%
2.6%
4.0%
3.2%
Total national
and regional
42.0%
39.8%
3.8!
4.9%
2.0%
16
Table 2 shows the geographic distribution
of organizations classified according to
primary medium. Fiber engages the interest
of about 4 0 to almost 50 percent of the
regional organizations except in the West
South Central states and New England. Na-
tional organizations also have a lower pro-
portion oriented to fiber (32 percent) .
Clay is the favored medium of 3 5 to 4 5 per-
cent of organizations in all parts of the
country except the West North Central states ,
where clay crafts claim less than 30 per-
cent, and the West South Central states,
where they claim over 45 percent. National
organizations reveal a relatively low propor-
tion oriented to clay — less than 30 percent.
sent from the West North Central and the
East South Central states and more than
usually abundant in the Mountain states.
Wood organizations are especially active
in the East South Central states; leather
organizations appear in larger than expected
numbers in the West North Central states;
and the West North Central and South West
Central states have relatively strong rep-
resentation of organizations oriented to
other media and multimedia.
Looking at the other media, the most evident
phenomenon is the interest in metal, wood,
glass, leather, paper, other media, and
multimedia among national organizations as
opposed to regional ones. Craft artists
working in these media may be relatively
few in number but they have clearly joined
together to form nationally-based associa-
tions. Some other patterns are also evident .
Metal organizations are conspicuously ab-
Leather
Paper
Other
media
Multi-
media
1.4'-
2 • O S
9.7%
4.2%
2 • 2 s
1.0%
2.2%
1.0%
2 « 2 "5
2.0%
4.8'-
4.1%
9.7%
0.7%
4.8%
..85
1.8%
1.3%
8.8-5
1.9%
1.3%
1.3%
6.6%
4.0%
2.6%
0.8%
0.7%
0.5%
4.2!
2.1%
17
Figure V
Membership size of
craft organizations
Under
25
25-49
50-99
100-499
500-
1,999
2,000-
4,999
16.6%
19.6%
11.3%
1.9%
,000 =fL 9%
more _y
(N = 932)
32.8%
0
Percent
10
20
30
Table 3
Membership of national
and regional organizations
Organizations
Under 2 5
members
National
10.0%
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
10.6%
14.3%
North Central region
East North Central
West North Central
16.9%
17.7%
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
22.9%
25.6%
19.0%
West region
Mountain
Pacific
20.5%
12.9%
18
Membership size
Membership size, which the survey used to
calculate geographic distribution of crafts-
persons and their preferred media, also says
something about the craft artists' joining
patterns. Of course, membership of organ-
izations is always changing and the size of
any one organization at any one time may
represent a particular stage of its growth.
Nevertheless, it is useful to look at the cur-
rent size range of craft membership organ-
izations .
Figure V shows distribution of craft member-
ship organizations in the United States by
seven size intervals. It is evident that
craft membership organizations tend to be
small in size — over one-third of the survey
respondents have fewer than 50 members and
only 14 percent have more than 50 0 members.
The median membership is 91. The mean mem-
bership size, on the other hand, is over 4 00
members, due to the very large size of a
few organizations.
Table 3 relates size to location. Predictably,
national organizations are well represented
in the larger intervals (over 500 members) .
The median membership size for each region-
al division (indicated by a box in Table 3)
falls in the 50- to 99-member interval. New
England is the exception with median mem-
bership in the 100 to 499 interval and rel-
atively strong showing of organizations
with more than 500 members. The Pacific
states also show strong representation in
the 500- to 1 , 999-member interval (almost
13 percent compared to New England's 16
percent) and the highest percentage of all
regional divisions in the 2 , 000-or-more
member interval.
H~" -^
25-49
50-99
100-499
500-
1,999
2,000-
4,999
5,000
or more
2.9%
34.3%
15.7%
1.4%
127. 1%I
8.6%
8.5s
15.2i
25.5%
|27.6%1
138.3%I
32.4%
16. 05.
10.5^
1.1%
20.8%
17.7%
118.8?
122.6'-
31.2%
37.1%
11.0%
4.8%
0.6%
0.6%
16.5%
20.5%
12.1%
13.8%
I17.9%1
125.9%!
34.9%
29.5%
34.5%
11.0%
5.1%
6.9%
0.9%
1.7%
1.3%
26.9%
20.2%
117.9s
121. 8 s
29.5%
29.8%
5.1%
12.9%
2.4!
19
Table 4
Size of organization by primary medium
""
Primary
medium
Under 25
members
25-49
50-99
100-499
500-
1,999
Fiber
16.8%
23.4%
21.0%
29.4%
7.6%
Clay
17.0%
12.0%
19.8%
34.0%
14.5%
Metal
15.6%
18.8%
21.9%
25.0%
12.5%
Wood
20.0%
13.3%
13.3%
24.4%
24.4%
Glass
27.8%
2 2 • 2 *6
27.8%
22.2%
Leather
20.0%
40.0%
40.0%
Paper
20.0%
20.0%
60.0%
Other media
13.2%
7.9%
18.4%
47.4%
2.6%
Multimedia
2 2 • 2~o
11.1%
5.6%
50.0%
5.6%
Table 5
Activities of national and regional organizations
Organizations
Exhibits
Sales
Apprentice
programs
Craft
courses
Workshops
National
87.5%
56.9%
21.1%
47.9%
77.8%
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
North Central region
East North Central
West North Central
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
West region
83.0%
91.4%
85.9%
71.7%
15.1%
16.0%
53.8%
44.3%
65.2%
83.0%
89.6%
91.8%
73.5%
68.9%
14.5%
16.9%
47.0%
55.0%
72.2%
73.3%
83.2%
92.1%
85.0%
80.4%
72.7%
70.0%
11.4%
13.0%
11.9%
42.1%
41.3%
53.4%
72.9%
66.7%
74.1%
80.8%
90.6%
78.2%
60.8%
9.0%
12.1%
33.3%
41.3%
Mountain
Pacific
59.7%
72.2%
Total national
and regional
87.7%
72.1%
14.0%
45.4%
72.0%
20
2,000-
5,000
Respon-
4,999
or more
ses (N)
0.8%
1.0%
(381)
2.2%
0.6%
(359)
3.1%
3.1%
(32)
2.2%
£» + £%
(45)
(18)
(5)
(5,
10.5%
(38)
5.6%
(18)
Other
educational
or research Social
activities functions
Publications
62.9%
58. 0 =
79.2%
36.7%
35.2%
57. 0!
56. 6*
44.6%
43.8%
42.9%
44.1%
70.9%
68.9%
46.9%
50.0%
50.0%
34.7%
38.6%
59.6%
61.3%
64.4%
46.7%
47.4%
44.8%
Table 4 shows that organizations oriented
to fiber — the most popular medium — tend to
be relatively small. Less than 39 percent
of fiber organizations have 100 or more
members, while on the average 52 percent of
all other craft organizations are at least
this big. While only ten leather and paper
organizations responded, none has 500 or
more members.
Members' professionalism
A special survey interest was focused on
craft organizations whose membership en-
gaged in selling or exhibiting their work.
Two questions were included to help deter-
mine whether the membership of respondent
organizations is professional in this sense.
Organizations were asked to indicate in-
volvement in 19 77 in exhibits, sales, appren-
ticeship programs, craft courses, workshops,
other educational or research activities,
social functions, publications, and other
activities. Almost 70 percent of organi-
zations reported involvement in three to
six of these activities. Table 5 shows rel-
ative involvement in them (omitting the cat-
egory of other media which was rarely cited).
Over 88 percent of craft membership organ-
izations exhibited their members' work and
72 percent held sales and of fered workshops
compared to the 6 4 percent that engaged in
social functions. Publications (48 per-
cent) , craft courses (45 percent) , and other
educational or research activities (41 per-
cent) figured prominently, but relatively
few groups offered formal apprenticeship
programs (14 percent) . The weight of the
findings suggests that most craft member-
ship organizations are oriented to members
whose primary concerns are exhibiting and
marketing their work and improving their
skills .
Some geographic variation is evident. Many
more national organizations were involved
in publications and other educational or
research activities than was true of or-
ganizations in any of the regional divi-
sions. Conversely, relatively few nation-
al organizations held sales. New England
organizations held more sales than the av-
erage, Pacific organizations fewer. Work-
shops, particularly popular in the Middle
Atlantic states, were much less so among
Mountain organizations (which tended to show
less commitment to training and information
activities generally) .
25.6%
37.1%
63.6%
69.8%
34.6%
44.7%
40.6%
63.5%
47.6%
21
Table 6
Organizational activities by primary medium
Primary medium
Apprentice Craft
Exhibits
Sales
programs
courses
Workshops
84.0%
61.2%
7.2%
39.8%
77.3%
90.8%
81.8%
19.1%
52.9%
72.5%
99.3%
80.0%
17.1%
31.4%
51.4%
88.9%
80.0%
22.7%
50.0%
68.9%
83.3%
76.5%
11.1%
27.8%
64.7%
83.3%
JJ . J^
16.7%
16.7%
33.3%
80.0%
20.0%
20.0%
40.0%
100.0%
89.5%
73.7%
23.7%
51.4%
63.2%
84.2%
89.5%
21.1%
42.1%
57.9%
Table 7
Organizational activities by membership size
Membership size
Exhibits
Sales
Apprentice Craft
programs courses
Workshops
Under 25
77.1%
72.7%
15.7%
2 8.6%
57.9%
25-49
82.4%
59.5%
9.8%
33.6%
72.5%
50-99
91.7%
79.9%
13.9%
46.6%
71.0%
100-499
90.2%
72.4%
13.4%
49.2%
74.8%
500-1,999
95.2%
76.9%
20.6%
68.3%
84.5%
2,000-4,999
94.4%
66.7%
11.8%
72.2%
83.3%
5,000 or more
100.0%
75.0%
25.0%
62.5%
100.0%
22
Table 6 shows considerable variation ac-
cording to sphere of interest. Leather
organizations stand out by virtue of few
being involved in activities other than
exhibits .
Other
educational
or research Social
activities functions
Publications
38.9%
59.0%
45.8%
42.8%
68.9%
45.2%
44.1%
71.4%
45.7%
47.7%
61.4%
65.9%
64.7%
88.2%
55.6%
16.7%
33.3%
40.0%
40.0%
40.0%
45.9%
68.4%
73.7%
21.1%
36.8%
47.4%
Organizations oriented to wood and other
media are more involved in publications
than the average, while multimedia organ-
izations are more involved in sales. Almost
all responding metal organizations cited
exhibit catalogues.
Table 7 shows that the largest organizations
— those with 5,000 or more members — are in
general most likely to be involved in a
wide range of member activities. There is
no linear relationship between size and a
particular activity; the smallest organi-
zations, for instance, have a higher-than-
average proportion with sales and appren-
ticeship programs although they report least
involvement with other activities.
Other
educational
or research Social
activities functions
Publications
27.0%
52.3%
19.0%
32.4%
61.6%
28.9%
42.8%
67.4%
45.9%
44.1%
68.3%
64.2%
53.8%
61.8%
63.5%
66.7%
66.7%
88.9%
75.0%
83.3%
87.5%
23
In addition to the question about activities,
organizations were asked if membership was
contingent on review of work by a panel of
accomplished craf tspersons or a "jury."
Responses indicate that almost 30 percent
of craft organizations require jurying of
work for all members, another 10 percent
require jurying for certain levels of mem-
berships, and the remainder have no jury
requirement. Figure VI shows that New
England stands out as having almost 45 per-
cent of organizations with a jury require-
ment, closely followed by the South Atlantic
states. In contrast, only 10 percent of the
West South Central organizations and 20 per-
cent of the West North Central ones require
jurying. Jury requirement among national
membership organizations is less than the
U.S. average.
Figure VII shows that 53 percent of metal
organizations have a jury requirement com-
pared to an average of less than 3 0 percent
for all craft organizations. The organi-
zations with the least stringent require-
ments are those categorized as other and
multimedia and leather organizations.
Responses to the questions on activities
suggest that a high proportion of craft
membership organizations in all areas and
representing all media are oriented to sales
and exhibition. However, jury requirements
suggest that there is greater variability
in commitment to high quality work, and craft
membership organizations oriented toward
the various media have certainly developed
differently in different geographic areas.
24
Figure VI
Regional jury
requirement
for membership
Figure VII
Jury requirement
for membership
by primary medium
Middle
Atlantic
East North
Central
West North
Central
South
Atlantic
East South
Central
West South
Central
Mountain
Pacific
22.4% '
19.0%
10 -°*i
0 10
Percent
44.5?
36.5%
40.8%
29.5%
25.6%
33.1%
20
30
40
Fiber
Clay
Metal
Wood
Glass
Leather
Paper
Other
media
Multi-
media
25.0%
37.0%
26.7%
27.8?
16.7%
53.0%
40.0%
L0.6% j
15.8%
0 10
Percent
20
30
40
50
25
CHAPTER II
ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The focus here is on the structure of craft
membership organizations and what resources
— personnel, facilities, and funds — are
available to sustain them. The survey in-
cluded questions on profit status, staff
and facilities, level of expenditure, sources
of funds, and organizational problems.
Corporate status
Most craft membership organizations — over
62 percent — are legally incorporated. Al-
most 53 percent of the total, or 85 percent
of the corporations, are nonprofit and tax-
exempt under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal
Revenue Code. The other 15 percent of in-
corporated organizations are prof it-making,
waiting to receive tax-exempt status, or
uncertain of their status.
Tables 8,9, and 10 relate corporate status
and information on staff and facilities to
geographic distribution, medium preference,
and membership size. There is little var-
iation in corporate structure viewed in
terms of location, although national or-
ganizations are more likely to be incor-
porated than regional ones. Incorporated
organizations in New England are somewhat
less likely than elsewhere to have tax-
exempt status. Organizations oriented pri-
marily to wood, glass, paper, and other
media are most likely to have formed cor-
porations, organizations oriented to fiber
and to multimedia least likely, and again,
there is relatively little variation in the
proportion of incorporated organizations
that are tax-exempt. However, there is a
strong relationship between incorporation
and membership size — organizations with 100
or more members are much more likely to be
incorporated than smaller ones. The rela-
tionship does not hold true when nonprofit
status is related to size — smallest organ-
izations being almost as likely as the
largest to be tax-exempt.
Table 8
Corporate status, personnel, and facilities of national and regional organizations
1
Organizations
Organizations
are
incorporated
Incorporated
organizations
are nonprofit
Organizations
have paid
officers or
staff
Organizations
own or rent
facilities
National
72.9%
82.4%
58.3%
61.1%
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
North Central region
East North Central
West North Central
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
West region
Mountain
Pacific
68.8%
57.6%
78.1%
86.0%
45.2%
31.4%
61.3%
61.2%
58.1%
61.0%
89.5%
91.7%
24.8%
21.0%
49.3%
49.2%
61.3%
71.6%
68.4%
89.2%
83.0%
82.1%
42.2%
36.4%
42.4%
56.1%
45.5%
57.6%
58.4%
55.4%
80.0%
86.6%
23.4%
25 . 8'5
46.8%
54.0%
Total national
and regional
62.3%
85.1%
34.0%
54.2%
26
Table 9
Corporate status, personnel, and facilities by primary medium
_
Organizations
Organizations
Incorporated
have paid
Organizations
are
organizations
officers or
own or rent
Primary
medium
incorporated
are nonprofit
staff
facilities
Fiber
50.0%
86.4%
21.6%
46.4%
Clay
70.3%
85.8%
46.2%
62.8%
Metal
56.3%
77.8%
37.1%
50.0%
Wood
81.0%
82.4%
35.6%
51.1%
Glass
80.0%
83.3%
33.3%
55.6%
Leather
66.7%
75.0%
16.7%
50.0%
Paper
80.0%
75.0%
20.0%
60.0%
Other media
75.7%
78.6%
31.6%
51.4%
Multimedia
52.6%
90.0%
42.1%
68.4%
Table 10
Corporate status, personnel, and facilities by membership size
Membership size
Organizations Incorporated
are organizations
incorporated are nonprofit
Organizations
have paid
Organizations
officers or
own or rent
staff
facilities
16.0%
40.0%
13.7%
42.1%
19.3%
49.4%
40.6%
59.1%
77.1%
76.5%
94.4%
88.9%
100.0%
87.5%
Under 25
33.6%
81.3%
25-49
39.6%
86.4%
50-99
58.9%
72.8%
100-499
78.6%
88.7%
500-1,999
88.5%
92.4%
2,000-4,999
88.9%
75.0%
5,000 or more
85.7%
83.3%
27
Table 11
1977 funding sources of national and regional organizations
Organizations
Member-
ship
fees
Sales
Funds
from
Work-
other
Local
shop
Private
organi-
govern
fees
donations
zations
ment
National
83.3%
47.2%
41.7%
43.1%
13.9%
2.8%
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
North Central region
East North Central
West North Central
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
West region
Mountain
Pacific
89.5%
92.5%
55.8%
50.0%
45.3%
57.5%
44.2%
30.2%
7.4%
12.3%
4.2%
12.3%
92.5%
79.4%
Id 2. ■ o "6
49.2%
42.6%
42.9%
24.5%
36.5%
8.4%
17.5%
3.9%
3.2%
81.7%
74.7%
75.4%
62.4%
53.2%
46.4%
39.4%
27.8%
46.4%
29.4%
30.4%
8.3%
20.3%
8.7%
8 . 3 -o
7.6%
14.5%
84.8%
89.1%
58.2%
50.8%
46.8%
47.7%
19.0%
28.9%
6.3%
9.4%
7.6%
17.2%
Total national
and regional
85.0%
53.3%
44.6%
31.4%
10.8%
8.4%
Table 12
Number of funding sources by membership size
g
1-2
3-5
6-9
Respon-
Membership size
sources
sources
sources
ses (N)
Under 25
77.4%
21.2%
1.4%
(157)
25-49
66.6%
33.3%
(155)
50-99
54.9%
41.8%
3.3%
(183)
100-499
41.4%
49.3%
9.3%
(306)
500-1,999
25.0%
39.4%
35.6%
(105)
2,000-4,999
2. A • Z. ~5
55.5%
A Z. . Z. "5
(18)
5,000 or more
25.0%
62.5%
12.5%
(8)
Total organizations
52.1%
39.4%
8.5%
(932)
28
State
govern-
ment
Federal
govern-
ment
Other
sources
No money
received
8.3!
16.7%
23.6s
1.4s
15.8%
21.7%
11.6%
9.4%
12.6%
10.4%
2.1%
0.9%
11.0%
20.6%
8.4%
12.7%
18.1%
15.9%
1.9%
4.8%
14.7%
34.2%
18.8%
13.8%
20.3%
17.4%
10.1%
10.1%
11.6%
2. • O "6
1.3%
16.5%
15.6%
6.3%
12.5%
7.6%
10.2%
1.6%
17.2%
12.5%
13.1%
1.7%
Staff and facilities
One indication of organizational develop-
ment is the presence of paid officers or
staff in executive positions. The survey
revealed that only one-third of craft mem-
bership organizations have such paid per-
sonnel. National organizations and those in
New England have a higher paid-personnel
proportion than those in other locations;
lowest proportions are in the North Central
and West regions. Organizations oriented
to clay are somewhat more likely than oth-
ers to have paid personnel, while leather,
paper, and fiber organizations are least
likely. The proportion of paid personnel
varies dramatically by membership size;
however, 100 percent of organizations with
5,000 or more members have paid personnel,
while this is true of fewer than 20 per-
cent of those with under 100 members.
Owning or renting offices, studios, or gal-
lery space can also indicate increasing
institutional stability and growth. The
survey found that about 54 percent of craft
membership organizations own or rent facil-
ities, a considerably higher figure than
the proportion having paid staff. About
20 percent of the organizations actually
own space, close to 4 0 percent rent, and
5 percent both own and rent. The survey
did not ask organizations with rented space
whether they rented only for such specific
occasions as exhibits and sales.
The proportion owning or renting facilities
shows very little variation viewed in terms
of location, although national organization*
and those in the Northeast rank somewhat
higher than others. Similarly, there is
relatively little variation viewed in terms
of primary medium although multimedia or-
ganizations are somewhat more likely than
others to own or rent facilities and fiber
organizations are somewhat less so. Pre-
dictably, membership size follows a positive
correlation — almost 90 percent of organi-
zations with 2,000 or more members own or
rent facilities compared with only 40 per-
cent of those with fewer than 50 members.
Funding sources and expenditure levels
Funding and expenditures are useful keys
to understanding operations . The survey
asked about 19 7 7 income from sources rang-
ing from membership fees and sales to fed-
eral funds. The organization could also
indicate that no funds were received in
1977.
The most frequently cited source of funds
— mentioned by 85 percent of all craft mem-
bership organizations — was membership fees .
Slightly more than half earn income from
sales .
About 31 percent receive private donations,
but few report funding from other external
sources .
Table 11 shows that there is little geo-
graphic variation. National membership
organizations report more funding from pri-
vate donations and less state and local
government funding than the average. New
England has a higher than average propor-
tion of organizations receiving private
donations; craft organizations in the Middle
Atlantic states rely more heavily than
others on workshop fees; East South Central
organizations are particularly dependent
on federal and state government funding
and Pacific organizations on local govern-
ment support.
Table 12 shows that the majority (52 per-
cent) of craft membership organizations re-
ceive support from only one or two sources .
Only organizations with more than 500 mem-
bers are likely to have more than five
sources of funding.
29
Figure VIII
$1,000-
$4,999
$5,000-
$9,999
$10,000-
$24,999
$25,000-
$49,999
$50,000-
$99,999
$100,000-
$499,999
$500, 00C
or more
1977 expenditures of
craft organizations
7
33.5% J
I
7
1
26.1%
z?
10.0s
1/
7i
8.9%
>
e.2%;
/
6.5% J
/
7.9% ;
TjO.8%
The survey asked respondents to indicate
approximate 1977 expenditures in eight cat-
egories ranging from less than $1,000 to
$500,000 or more. The responses provide a
general financial picture and indicate how
the budgetary level varies according to
other characteristics.
Craft organ
operations .
third of 90
less than $
spent betwe
the remaini
$500,000 in
— less than
spent half
izations tend to be small-budget
Figure VIII shows that one-
7 respondent organizations spent
1,000; and a little over a third
en $1,000 and $10,000. Most of
ng 3 0 percent spent less than
1977. Only seven organizations
1 percent — indicated that they
a million dollars or more.
o
Percent
10
20
30
Table 13 shows the majority of craft organ-
izations spending at least $10,000. Almost
40 percent of national organizations spent
over $50,000, and only 13 percent spent un-
der $1,000. Among the regional organiza-
tions, New England has the smallest pro-
portion— under 20 percent — spending less
than $1,000, and the highest proportion
spending $50,000 or more. In contrast, the
West North Central and Mountain states have
the smallest proportion of organizations
spending over $50,000 — less than 8 percent
in each case — and the highest proportion
making do on less than $1,000 — over 4 0 per-
cent in both areas.
Table 14 follows the general pattern of low-
budget concentration — showing that over
half the fiber organizations spent less than
$1,000 in 1977 (compared with about one-third
of all organizations) , and only 8 percent of
them spent $50,000 or more (compared with
over 15 percent on average) . Organizations
that have the greatest expenditures include
those oriented to wood, glass, and clay.
About 30 percent of organizations oriented
to wood or glass spent $50 , 000 or more, while
only a quarter of them spent under $1,000.
30
Table 13
1977 expenditures of national and regional organizations
Organizations
Under
$1,000
$1,000-
$4,999
$5,000-
$9,999
$10,000-
$49,999
$50,000
or more
National
12.7%
12.7%
8.5%
26.8%
39.4%
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
North Central region
East North Central
West North Central
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
West region
Mountain
Pacific
19.3%
36.0%
30.7%
28.0%
11.4%
10.0%
20.4%
15.0%
18.2%
11.0%
39.5%
43.9%
27.0%
33.3%
12.5%
5.3%
8.5%
10.6%
12.6%
7.1%
36.2%
34.2%
28.6%
23.8%
22.4%
30.4%
8.6%
10.5%
3.6%
15.2%
21.0%
23.2%
16.2%
11.8%
14.3%
40.3%
36.8%
29.9%
24.8%
14.3%
10.4%
7.8%
12.0%
7.8%
16.0%
Table 14
Expenditures by primary medium
Under
$1,000-
$5,000-
$10,000-
$50,000
Primary medium
$1,000
$4,999
$9,999
$49,999
or more
Fiber
50.8%
23.3%
8.6%
9.6%
7.8%
Clay
19.3%
28.0%
11.0%
20.2%
21.7%
Metal
21.2%
30.3%
9.1%
21.2%
18.2%
Wood
25.0%
22.7%
9.1%
11.4%
31.9%
Glass
23.5%
17.6%
17.6%
11.8%
29.4%
Leather
50.0%
16.7%
33.3%
Paper
75.0%
25.0%
Other media
26.3%
34.2%
13.2%
10.5%
15.8%
Multimedia
40.0%
26.7%
6.7%
26.6%
31
Figure IX
Number of
serious problems
Figure X
Problems of
craft organizations
Number
of
problems
P
■
0.1%
1.6%
3.1%
6.0%
8.0%
=
0 5
Percent
12.3%
14.0%
10
(N = 915)
20.2%
17.3%
17.4%
15
20
Display or
storage space
Equipment
Funds
Staff
Commun-
ication
Technical
information
Other
(N = 756)
35.6%
25.4%
52.8%
J
31.0%
)
>
57.8% J
35.6%
30.0%
>
>
29.5% |
II
17.7%
0 20
Percent
40
60
32
Problems
The survey asked respondents to indicate
problems that were "serious for their or-
ganization. " One or more of the following
could be checked: inadequate working space,
lack of meeting space, inadequate display
or storage space, not enough equipment, in-
adequate funds, not enough staff, not enough
communication with other craft organiza-
tions, lack of information on available
technical assistance, and other problems.
Figure IX shows that 17 percent of the 915
respondents report no serious problems and
that another 38 percent report no more than
two. About one-third indicate having three
to five serious problems, while fewer than
11 percent checked of f six or more problems .
The number of problems shows little geograph-
ic variation although more organizations in
the East and West South Central states re-
port six or more problems than elsewhere.
There is also little variation in terms of
membership size. Very large organizations
— those with 5,000 or more members — are
most likely to report few problems. However,
small organizations — those with under 500
members — are no more apt to report many
problems than the average. It is middle-
sized organizations, those with between 50 0
and 5,000 members, which are most apt to re-
port six or more problems.
Figure X deals with specific problems. In-
adequate funds is the problem cited by
almost 58 percent of the 756 respondents
and lack of meeting space troubles only 25
percent of them, but no one problem is con-
sidered serious by as many as three-fifths
of the respondents.
There is some variation in type of problem
according to membership size , and organiza-
tions with between 500 and 5,000 members more
often report inadequate working space, in-
adequate display space, not enough equip-
ment, inadequate funds, and not enough staff
than either smaller or larger-sized ones.
National organizations cite lack of equip-
ment less often than regional ones, and
conversely, cite not enough staff almost
twice as often. The Mountain states have
the highest proportion of organizations —
almost 4 0 percent — wanting communication
with other craft membership organizations ,
while those in the Pacific states most often
report inadequate display or storage space.
Two problems — not enough staff and not
enough equipment — vary considerably accord-
ing to medium. Almost 50 percent of wood
organizations report not enough equipment
as compared with the 31 percent average;
over 55 percent of glass organizations and
almost 50 percent of clay organizations re-
port not enough staff as compared with the
average of about 35 percent. Multimedia,
leather, and fiber organizations are least
likely to be troubled by these inadequacies.
One other variable that relates to problems
is an organization's longevity. Almost 70
percent of craft membership organizations
that have been in existence less than five
years cite inadequate funding as a serious
problem compared to about 50 percent of
those in existence 20 years or more. Sim-
ilarly, about 50 percent of organizations
organized one to two years ago report lack
of information on available technical as-
sistance as a serious problem compared to
less than 25 percent of the older organi-
zations .
33
CHAPTER III
Figure XI
Years in existence
DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Several other characteristics of craft mem-
bership organizations that affect their
relationship to members may also shed light
on future development. The survey included
questions about longevity, geographic dis-
persion of membership, clientele, and wheth-
er stated purposes coincide with activities.
Responses were considered in relationship
to such factors as geographic location,
primary medium, and membership size.
Longevity
Craft membership organizations, on average,
have existed for at least ten years. As
shown in Figure XI, nearly 85 percent were
over five years old in 1978 and barely 6
percent had existed for two years or less.
One cannot conclude with confidence that
the pattern of longevity is the same as in
previous years or that it will continue in
the future. Comparative data from the plan-
ning study preceding the survey suggest
that an exceptionally large number of craft
membership organizations were formed five
to ten years ago, that these have had a
high survival rate, and that the rate of
formation of new organizations has subse-
quently diminished.
It is evident from Table 15 that there is
some relationship between size and longev-
ity— larger organizations are older and
smaller ones younger. Longevity also bears
some relationship to service to members and
the general public. As is seen in Table 16,
relatively fewer organizations formed one or
two years ago report exhibits, sales, ap-
prenticeship programs, craft courses, and
workshops , but a craft membership organi-
zation that has been in existence for five
years is just about as likely to carry on
a full range of marketing and training func-
tions as much older ones . Contrary to the
general pattern, young organizations have
more publications than older ones .
Several relationships between longevity
and location or medium are evident. Organ-
izations oriented to metal, leather, and
multimedia and Mountain and West North
Central organizations figured largely in
the boom formation of five to ten years
ago. Conversely, organizations in the
East North Central and Pacific states are
least likely to have formed in that boom
period.
2 or
less
3-4
5-9
10-19
20 or
more
5.8%
t
9.7%
29.9%[,
..
24.8% P
/
29.7% J
10
20
30
Percent
Table 16
Organizational activities
by years in existence
1
Years in exis
tence
Exhibi
ts
Sales
2 or less
55.1%
47.9%
3-4
83.3%
71.1%
5-9
88.5%
79.5%
10-19
91.6%
74.9%
20 or more
91.0%
66.1%
Total
87.7%
71.9%
34
Table 15
Years in existence by membership size
Membership size
2 years
3-4
or less
years
9.0%
16.1%
9.9%
11.8%
3.8%
7.7%
4.3%
8.3%
3.8%
6.7%
5-9
years
10 years
or more
Under 25
25-49
50-99
100-499
500-1,999
2,000-4,999
5,000 or more
12.5%
3 6.8%
33.6%
34.6%
26.2%
18.3%
16.7%
25.0%
38.1%
44.7%
53.9%
61.1%
71.2%
O 3 • J "6
62.5%
Apprentice
programs
Craft
courses
Workshops
Other
educational
or research
activities
Social
functions
Publications
8.3%
25.0%
56.3%
42.6%
52.2%
57.4%
10.0%
35.6%
66.3%
43.2%
64.0%
57.3%
15.7%
43.4%
65.5%
40.7%
61.5%
42.7%
16.8%
47.6%
72.9%
35.3%
60.7%
46.9%
11.7%
51.4%
82.5%
43.7%
69.8%
48.5%
13.8%
45.1%
72.0%
40.6%
63.6%
47.7%
35
Figure XII
Geographic focus of
craft organizations
<N = 917)
Regional
National
Inter-
national
62.6%
20.4%
9.2%
3.7%
4.1%
20
40
60
Percent
Geographic focus
Concentration of membership and service to
members or a wider clientele help define
breadth of organizational program. The
membership concentration, or geographic
focus, of the organizations is defined as
local, state, regional, national, or in-
ternational depending upon from which areas
the members were drawn. Note that the terms
"national" and "regional" are used differ-
ently than in the earlier sections of this
report. Previously, "national" included
organizations with both national and in-
ternational memberships and "regional"
referred to all the remaining organizations
separated according to the Census region
in which they were located. Figure XII
shows that, in general, crafts organiza-
tions have a narrow geographic base with
almost 63 percent reporting that a majority
of their membership is local. About one-
fifth of the organizations indicated a
statewide membership and substantially
fewer show regional, national, or inter-
nationl memberships .
Table 17 shows that some distinctive loca-
tion patterns emerge. New England has
relatively few local organizations and
many more than the average with state or
regional membership. Middle Atlantic states
also have a larger than average proportion
of regional organizations (although fewer
than average state organizations) . Pacific
organizations are preponderantly local.
Table 18 shows metal , wood, paper, and glass
organizations more likely than others to be
regional, national, or international in mem-
bership, while multimedia organizations are
more likely than most to be either local or
36
Table 17
Geographic focus of regional organizations
1
Organizations
Local
membership
State
membership
Regional
membership
Northeast region
New England
Middle Atlantic
North Central regie
East North Central
West North Central
South region
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
West region
Mountain
Pacific
48.9%
68.3%
3 A . £ "6
13.9%
18.9%
17.8%
>n
65.6%
72.1%
22.5%
23.0%
11.9%
4.9%
65.7%
65.8%
71.7%
24.8%
26.3%
21.7%
9.5%
7.9%
6.7%
73.3%
80.2%
20.0%
17.5%
6.7%
2.4%
Total
67.9%
22.1%
9.9%
Table 18
Geographic focus by primary medium
Primary medium Local
Inter-
State Regional National national
Fiber
68.4%
17.7%
7.8%
2.9%
3.2%
Clay
58.9%
25.5%
9.6%
4.0%
2.0%
Metal
51.5%
18.2%
15.2%
6.1%
9.1%
Wood
55.6%
20.0%
11.1%
6.7%
6.7%
Glass
35.3%
29.4%
11.8%
5.9%
17.6%
Leather
Paper
66.7%
20.0%
16.7%
40.0%
20.0%
16.7%
20.0%
Other
media
67.6%
10.8%
2.7%
5.4%
13.5%
Multimedia
72.2%
5.6%
5.6%
16.7%
37
Figure XIII
Market-
ing
Work-
shop
Infor-
mation
Social
Other
Stated purpose of
craft organizations
55.9%
43.8%
68
48.8%
37.8%
15.91
w
0 20
Percent
40
60
international. As is seen in Table 19, the
majority of organizations with under 100
members are local and a majority of those
with 2,000 or more members are national or
international in scope.
Table 20 shows whether the beneficiaries
of program components are members only,
members and other craft artists, or the
general public. Generally, craft member-
ship organizations' programs are directed
toward either their own members or the gen-
eral public. Exhibits and craft courses
are most apt to be open to the general pub-
lic; social functions and publications are
most often restricted to members.
Congruence of purpose and activities
The survey asked respondents to indicate
applicable organizational purpose1 from a
list that included exhibiting, marketing,
conducting workshops or other skill-learning
activities for members , providing informa-
tion on crafts to members , and fostering
social interaction among members . Figure
XIII shows that workshops or other skill-
learning activities for members are seen
as central aims by over two-thirds of re-
sponding organizations. Exhibiting is cited
by over half of them and providing infor-
mation on crafts to members by close to
half. Marketing the products of members
and social interaction among members rank
below these as central aims.
The purpose categories are very similar to
the categories relating to activities dis-
cussed in Chapter I in connection with pro-
fessionalism. To determine how closely
purpose and activities mesh or diverge,
responses to the two groups of questions
were reorganized into four broad categories:
marketing (exhibiting and marketing as pur-
poses, exhibiting and sales as activities);
training (workshops as a purpose , workshops
and apprenticeship programs and craft courses
as activities) ; information (providing in-
formation on crafts to members as a purpose,
other educational or research activities
and publications as activities) ; and social
(social interaction among members as a pur-
pose, social functions as an activity) . Or-
ganizations were classified as having cited
one of these categories as a purpose and
an activity (this is purpose-activity con-
gruence) , having cited an activity without
the same categorical purpose, and having
cited the purpose without a related activity.
38
Table 19
Geographic focus by membership size
m
Membership size
Local
State
Regional
National
Inter-
national
Under 25
84.4%
7.1%
3.9%
4.5%
25-49
81.5%
11.9%
6.0%
0.7%
50-99
72.6%
18.3%
8.0%
0.6%
0.6%
100-499
51.0%
31.3%
9.7%
4.3%
3.7%
500-1,999
30.3%
29.3%
21.2%
6.1%
13.1%
2,000-4,999
22.2%
11.1%
5.6%
2. t- . Z. "6
38.9%
5,000 or more
X z. • D "6
12.5%
—
75.0%
Table 20
Organizational activities by whom intended for
Members
and
Members
other craft
General
Activity
only
artists
public
Exhibits
23.5%
21.8%
54.7%
Sales
30.2%
21.0%
48.8%
Apprentice programs
29.1%
27.6%
43.3%
Craft courses
2 o . 8 "5
13.6%
57.6%
Workshops
35.4%
18.8%
45.8%
Other educational or
research activities
30.8%
19.9%
49.3%
Social functions
54.2%
14.3%
31.5%
Publications
52.8%
19.5%
27.7%
39
Table 21
Congruence of purpose and activities
g 1
Purpose and
activity-
Purpose
but
Activity but
Category
congruent
not activity
not purpose
Marketing
56.5%
19.4%
24.1%
Training
70.3%
8.1%
21.6%
Information
23.0%
41.4%
35.6%
Social funct
ions
43.3%
10.0%
46.7%
Table 21 shows the highest congruence among
organizations involved in training — over
70 percent of which cited training as a
primary purpose and also claimed one or more
training activities — and substantial con-
gruence of purpose and activity for marketing
and social functions. Most organizations
that see training and social functions as
purposes engage in related activities . Sig-
nificant numbers of organizations engage
in information and social activities but
did not cite them among their purposes (al-
though social activity is less than likely
to be considered a primary purpose) . Over
41 percent of organizations citing infor-
mation on crafts to members as a primary
purpose did not engage in informational ac-
tivities in 1977. There is very little
variation in congruence according to geo-
graphic location, membership size, and
organizational longevity.
40
CHAPTER IV
REVIEW BY MEDIUM AND REGION
(highest except for glass)
Geographic focus: 56% local; 7% national
(highest proportion except for paper)
Metal
The characteristics of craft organizations
were discussed previously in terms of pri-
mary medium and regional location. This
chapter summarizes these characteristics.
Organizations by primary medium
Fiber
Number : 5
Size: med
for lea
Activities
hibits
(61%) ,
Jury: 25%
ship
Incorporat
proport
Facilities
Expenditur
(lowest
Geographic
portion
12 (42% of all organizations)
ian membership 73 (lowest except
ther)
: over half are involved in ex-
(84%) , workshops (77%) , sales
social functions (59%)
have jury requirement for member-
ion: 50% incorporated (lowest
ion for any medium)
: 46% own or rent facilities
es: median expenditures $984
for any medium)
focus: 68% local (highest pro-
except for multimedia)
Clay
Number: 485 (40% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 114
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (91%) , sales (82%) , workshops
(73%) , social functions (69%) , craft
courses (53%)
Jury: 37% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 70% incorporated
Facilities: 63% own or rent facilities
(highest proportion except for multi-
media)
Expenditures: median expenditures $6,227
(highest except for wood and glass)
Geographic focus: 59% local
Wood
Number: 60 (5% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 156
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (89%) , sales (80%) , workshops
(69%) , publications (66%) , social func-
tions (62%)
Jury: 27% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 81% incorporated (highest
proportion for any medium)
Facilities: 51% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $6,264
Number: 4 6
Size: med
Activities
hibits
tions (
Jury: 53%
ship (h
Incorporat
Facilities
Expenditur
(highes
Geographic
portion
Leather
(4% of all organizations)
ian membership 86
: over half are involved in ex-
(99%), sales (80%), social func-
71%) , workshops (51%)
have jury requirement for member-
ighest proportion for any medium)
ion: 56% incorporated
: 50% own or rent facilities
es : median expenditures $7,528
t for any medium)
focus: 35% local (lowest pro-
except for paper)
Number: 9 (less than 1% of all organiza-
tions)
Size: median membership 44 (smallest for
any medium)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (83%)
Jury: 17% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 67% incorporated
Facilities: 50% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $1,000
(lowest except for fiber)
Geographic focus: 67% local
Paper
Number: 6 (less than 1% of all organiza-
tions)
Size: median membership 167 (largest ex-
cept for multimedia and other media)
Activities: over half are involved in work-
shops (100%) , exhibits (80%)
Jury: 40% have jury requirement for member-
ship (highest proportion except for met-
al)
Incorporation: 80% incorporated
Facilities: 60% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $3,6 67
Geographic focus: 20% local (lowest pro-
portion for any medium) ; 40% regional
(highest proportion for any medium) ;
40% national or international (highest
proportion for any medium)
Other media
Number: 51 (4% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 189 (same high fig-
ure as multimedia)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (90%) , sales (74%) , publications
41
(74%) , social functions (68%) , craft
courses (51%)
Jury: 11% have jury requirement for member-
ship (lowest proportion for any medium)
Incorporation: 76% incorporated
Facilities: 51% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $3,772
Geographic focus: 68% local
Multimedia
(72%) ,
Jury: 37%
ship
Incorporat
Facilities
(same h
Expenditur
Funding:
fees (5
tions (
social functions (57%)
have jury requirement for member-
ion: 59% are incorporated
: 61% own or rent facilities
igh proportion as New England)
es: median expenditures $3,000
membership fees (93%) , workshop
8%) , sales (50%) , private dona-
30%), state government (22%)
Number: 26 (2% of all organizations)
Size: median membership size 189 (same high
figure as other media)
Activities: over half are involved in
sales (90%) , exhibits (84%) , workshops
(58%)
Jury: 16% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 53% incorporated (lowest
proportion except for fiber)
Facilities: 51% rent or own facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $2,49 8
Geographic focus: 72% local (highest pro-
portion for any medium)
Organizations by region
New England
Number: 115 (10% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 155 (largest for
any region)
Total members: 44,966 (15% of craft artists;
0.61% of New England working-age popula-
tion— highest proportion for any region)
Media: clay (46%), fiber (34%), metal (8%)
wood (5%)
Activities: over half are
sales (86%), exhibits (i
(65%) , social functions
courses (54%)
Jury: 45% have jury requirement for member-
ship (highest proportion for any region)
Incorporation: 69% are incorporated
Facilities: 61% own or rent facilities
(same high proportion as Middle Atlantic)
Expenditures: median expenditures $5,000
(highest for any region)
Funding: membership fees (90%), sales (56%),
workshop fees (45%), private donations
(44%) , state government (16%)
involved in
!3%) , workshops
(57%) , craft
Middle Atlantic
Number: 136 (12% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 86
Total members: 39,766 (13% of craft artists ;
0.18% of Middle Atlantic working-age
population)
Media: fiber (45%) , clay (45%) , metal (3%)
wood (3%)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (92%) , workshops (83%) , sales
East North Central
Number: 208 (18% of all organizations
highest for any region)
Size: median membership 82
Total members: 52,002 (17% of craft art-
ists— highest for any region; 0.21% of
East North Central working-age popula-
tion)
Media: fiber (45%) , clay (42%) , other me-
dia (4%) , wood (3%)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (90%) , sales (74%) , workshops
(72%) , social functions (71%)
Jury: 22% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 58% are incorporated
Facilities: 49% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $2,556
Funding: membership fees (93%), sales (52%),
workshop fees (43%) , private donations
(25%), other unspecified sources (18%)
West North Central
Number: 80 (7% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 81
Total members: 14,989 (5% of craft artists
— the same low proportion as Mountain;
0.15% of West North Central working-age
population — lowest proportion except for
Mountain)
Media: fiber (47%) , clay (27%) ,
dia (9%), wood, leather, and
(5% each)
Activities: over half are
hibits (92%) , workshops
(69%), social functions
courses
Jury: 19%
other me-
multimedia
involved in ex-
(73%) , sales
(69%) , craft
(55%) , publications (50%)
have jury requirement for member-
ship (lowest proportion except for West
South Central)
Incorporation: 61% are incorporated
Facilities: 49% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $1,733
(lowest for any region)
Funding: membership fees (79%) , sales (49%) ,
workshop fees (43%) , private donations
(37%) , state government (21%)
South Atlantic
Number: 142 (12% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 87
42
Total members: 23,248 ( 10% of craft artists ;
0.39% of South Atlantic working-age pop-
ulation)
Media: fiber (46%), clay (46%), wood (5%),
multimedia (2%)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (83%), sales (80%), workshops
(73%) , social functions (60%)
Jury: 41% have jury requirement for member-
ship (highest proportion except for New
England)
Incorporation: 61% are incorporated
Facilities: 56% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures of
$3,319
Funding: membership fees (82%), sales (62%),
workshop fees (39%) , private donations
(29%) , state government (15%)
East South Central
Number: 118 (10% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 60 (smallest ex-
cept for Mountain)
Total members: 33,036
0.41% of East South
population — highest
for New England
Media: fiber (49%) , clay
glass (3%)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (92%) , sales (73%) , workshops
(68%) , social functions (61%)
Jury: 30% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 72% are incorporated (high-
est proportion for any region)
Facilities: 46% own or rent facilities
(lowest proportion for any region)
Expenditures: median expenditures $3,821
Funding: membership fees (75%), sales (53%)
state government (34%) , private dona-
tions (30%) , workshop fees (28%)
(11% of craft artists;
Central working-age
proportion except
(36%) , wood (11%)
West South Central
Number: 91 (8% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 85
Total members: 23,554 (8% of craft artists;
0.19% of West South Central working-age
population)
Media: clay (47%) , fiber (30%) , other me-
dia (9%) , wood (5%)
Activities: over half are
hibits (85%), workshops
(70%) , social functions
courses (53%)
Jury: 10% have jury requirement for member-
ship (lowest proportion for any region)
Incorporation: 6 8% are incorporated
Facilities: 58% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $3,816
Funding: membership fees (75%) , sales (46%) ,
workshop fees (46%) , private donations
(33%), state governments (19%)
involved in ex-
(74%) , sales
(64%) , craft
Mountain
Number: 105 (9% of all organizations)
Size: median membership 56 (lowest for any
region)
Total members: 15,601 (5% of craft artists
— same low proportion as West North Cen-
tral; 0.12% of Mountain working-age pop-
ulation)
Media: clay (40%) , fiber (38%) , metal (9%)
other media (7%)
Activities: over half are involved in ex-
hibits (81%), sales (78%), social func-
tions (64%) , workshops (60%)
Jury: 26% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 58% are incorporated
Facilities: 47% own or rent facilities
(lowest proportion except for East South
Central)
Expenditures: median expenditures $2,298
(lowest except for West North Central)
Funding: membership fees (85%), sales (58%)
workshop fees (47%) , private donations
(19%), state governments (17%)
Pacific
Number: 153 (13% of all organizations
highest proportion except for East North
Central)
Size: median membership 88 (largest except
for New England)
Total members: 49,249 (16% of craft art-
ists— highest proportion except for East
North Central; 0.28% of Pacific working-
age population)
Media: fiber (47%) , clay
wood ( 4 % )
Activities: over half are
hibits (91%) , workshops
functions (70%) , sales
Jury: 33% have jury requirement for member-
ship
Incorporation: 55% are incorporated (low-
est proportion for any region)
Facilities: 54% own or rent facilities
Expenditures: median expenditures $3,129
Funding: membership fees (89%), sales (51%)
workshop fees (48%) , private donations
(29%) , local governments (17%)
(36%) , metal (6%)
involved in ex-
(72%) , social
(61%)
43
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
CALCULATION OF ORGANIZED CRAFT ARTISTS BY MEDIUM
APPENDIX B
REGIONS AND DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTRY AS DEFINED BY
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Table 22
Media among organizations and artists
Medium
Organiz
ations
Artists
Fiber
Not specified
Specified
Total
Primary
Number
280
340
620
mentions
Percent
19.3%
23.4%
42.7%
All mentions
Number Percent
333 12.9%
591 23.0%
924 35.9%
Primary
Number
73,908
73,457
147,365
mentions
Percent
24.7%
24.6%
49.3%
All mentions
Number Percent
78,124 20.6%
91,592 24.1%
169,716 44.7%
Clay
Not specified
Specified
Total
167
296
463
11.5%
20.4%
31.9%
191
369
560
7.4%
14.3%
21.7%
35,139
55,278
90,417
11.7%
18.5%
30.2%
36,931
61,121
98,052
9.7%
16.1%
25.8%
Metal
Not specified
Specified
Total
23
76
99
1.6%
5.2%
6.8%
109
204
313
4.2%
7.9%
12.2%
3,988
11,291
15,279
1.3%
3.8%
5.1%
10,595
20,934
31,529
2. . o -5
5.5%
8.3%
Wood
Not specified
Specified
Total
77
24
101
5.3%
1.7%
7.0%
226
57
283
8 • 8 -6
11.0%
12,558
3,851
16,409
4.2%
1.3%
5.5%
23,124
6,191
29,315
6.1%
1.6%
7.7%
Glass
Not specified
Specified
Total
12
30
42
0.8%
2.1%
2.9%
81
90
171
3.1%
6.6%
2,145
5,382
7,527
0.7%
1.8%
2.5%
6,205
9,390
15,595
1.6%
2.5%
4.1%
Leather
Not specified
Specified
Total
18
2
20
1.2%
0.1%
1.3%
56
8
64
2.2%
0.3%
2.5%
3,162
240
3,402
1.0%
0.1%
1.1%
5,510
664
6,174
1.4%
0.2%
1.6%
Paper
Not specified
Specified
Total
1
8
9
0.1%
0.5%
0.6%
5
20
25
0.2%
0.8%
1.0%
158
1,627
1,785
0.1%
0.5%
0.6%
449
2,323
2,772
0.1%
0.6%
0.7%
Multimedia
Total
37
2.5%
109
4.2%
6,705
2. • 2. -6
11,484
3.0%
Other media
Total
61
4.2%
124
4.8%
10,304
3.4%
14,885
3.9%
Total
1,452*
99.9%
2,573*
99.9%
299,193
99.9%
379,522**
99.8%
*These estimates of the total number of craft organizations differ from the 1,218
estimate cited earlier in this report to the extent that organizations listed more
than one medium used by their members.
**This represents the total estimated number of craft artists who are members of
craft organizations.
46
APPENDIX A
CALCULATION OF ORGANIZED CRAFT ARTISTS
BY MEDIUM
The survey questionnaire
ent organization whether
one medium, "fiber, clay
than one medium. Organi
as "specific medium" wer
medium; organizations re
eral" were asked to list
larity up to five media
worked.
asked each respond-
it was oriented to
, etc . , " or more
zations responding
e asked to name the
sponding as "gen-
in order of popu-
in which members
Responses to these questions were classified
to extract as much detail as possible . For
example, lace and rug-hooking were given
separate subgroup identification within the
broad category of fiber. However, the large
number of respondents who named "fiber" as
a medium (as suggested in the question
wording) and were subsequently identified
as "fiber, not specified" undoubtedly in-
clude some lace and rug-hooking organiza-
tions as well.
Responses that focused on objects produced
with a variety of materials (e.g., dolls
and toys) were classified as "multimedia."
Conversely, candles, egg decor, and bread —
products depending on specific materials —
were classified as "other media." All mul-
timedia and other media responses were dealt
with in specific subcategories.
Table 22 shows the number of organizations
that named each of the major media further
delineated as "not specified" or "specified"
according to whether a subcategory was iden-
tified. The numbers in the column labeled
"primary mention" comprise single-medium
organizations and the first and second
listings of general media ones. "All men-
tions" comprise these and third, fourth,
and fifth listings of the general-media
organizations as well. (Some general-media
organizations named as many as eight me-
dia, but listings beyond the fifth were
ignored.) Table 23 provides similar in-
formation. If the "not specified" replies
follow the pattern of the "specified" sub-
categories, almost 16 percent of all fiber
mentions by craft organizations were of
weaving (44.2 percent weaving all mentions
from Table 23 times 35.9 percent total fi-
ber all mentions from Table 22) .
Estimates of craft artists working in each
medium listed in Table 22 and in the medium
subcategories in Table 23 were constructed
on numbers of organizations given the fol-
lowing assumptions:
average membership of all organizations
(international, national, regional, state,
and local) is 415 craftspersons;
all members of single-medium organizations
and general-media organizations listing
only one medium work in that one medium;
members of general-media organizations
listing five media divide as follows: 30
percent work in the first-mentioned cate-
gory, 2 5 percent in the second, 20 percent
in the third, 15 percent in the fourth , and
10 percent in the fifth;
members of general-media organizations
listing four media divide as follows: 33
percent work in the first category, 28 per-
cent in the second, 22 percent in the third,
and 17 percent in the fourth;
members of general-media organizations
listing three media divide as follows: 40
percent work in the first category, 34 per-
cent in the second, and 26 percent in the
third;
members of general-media organizations
listing two media divide as follows: 54 per-
cent work in the first category and 4 6 per-
cent in the second.
To simplify the estimation process, the above
proportions were averaged as follows: 10 0
percent of the members of single-medium
organizations work in the medium, 38 per-
cent of the members of general-media or-
ganizations listing a medium first work in
the medium, 2 9 percent of the members of
general-media organizations listing a me-
dium second, 22 percent of the members of
general-media organizations listing a me-
dium third, 16 percent of the members of
general-media organizations listing a me-
dium fourth, and 10 percent of the members
of general-media organizations listing a
medium fifth. These percentages add up to
115 percent, allowing for some members
working in more than one medium.
For the calculation of estimated artists,
take the book arts subcategory under paper
as an example. Book arts was named by one
47
Table 23
Media subcategories among organizations and artists
1
Medium
Organizations
Artists
Primary mentions
All mentions
Primary mentions
All mentions
Fiber, specified
Weaving
52.4%
44.2%
59.2%
54.4%
Embroidery
11.5%
12.0%
11.7%
11.8%
Quiltmakihg
Macrame
11.8%
10.0%
10.1%
9.5%
7.9%
12.5%
4.7%
7.4%
Knitting
6.2%
6.4%
4.9%
5.2%
Batik
3.5%
6.6%
2.6%
4.2%
Basketry
3.8%
5.4%
2.8%
3.8-5
Rug-hooking
1.8%
1.5%
2.2%
2.0%
Lace
0.9%
0.7%
1 . 7%
1,4%
Dyes
0.3%
0.7%
0.2%
0.4%
Total percentage
100.1%
100.0%
100.1%
100.1%
Total number
340
591
73,457
91,592
Metal, specified
Jewelry
73.7%
75.5%
70.2%
73.1%
Silver
15.8%
11.3%
13.5%
11.5%
Me talsmi thing
7.9%
7.4%
11.6%
9.2%
Iron
1.3%
2.0%
3.7%
2.9%
Gold
1.3%
1.5%
1.1%
1.4%
Foundry
1.0%
0.7%
Copper
1.0%
0.6%
Wirework
0.5%
___
0.4%
Total percentage
100.0%
100.2%
100.1%
99.8%
Total number
76
204
11,291
20,934
Clay, specified
Ceramics
94.6%
94.3%
92.6%
92.6%
China painting
4.1%
4.6%
5.5%
5.6%
Ceramic molds
0.7%
0.5%
1.5%
1.5%
Plaster-crafting
0.7%
0.5%
0.4%
0.4%
Total percentage
100.0%
99.9%
99.9%
100.1%
Total number
296
369
55,278
61,121
single-medium organization and was listed
first, second, third, and fourth by four
general-media organizations.
Applying the average above to the average
membership figure of 415 gave an estimated
number of 693 artists based on the most
popular mentions:
(1) (1.00) (415) = 415
plus (1) (.38) (415) = 158
plus (1) (.29) (415) = 120
The resulting figure of 693 equals 42 . 6 per-
cent of the total estimated artists working
in specified subcategories. Similarly, the
estimated number of artists based on book
arts all mentions comprises the foregoing
693 plus:
(1) (.22) (415) = 91
plus (1) (.16) (415) = 66
The resulting 850 is 36.6 percent of the
total represented estimated artists working
48
Table 23 (continued)
Medium
Organizations
Artists
Wood, specified
Carving
Furniture
Marquetry
Wood turning
Musical instruments
Primary mentions
8 3 . 3 -o
8 . 3 -o
4.2%
4.2%
All mentions
70.2%
19.3%
5.3%
1.8%
3.5%
Primary mentions
79.8%
6.3%
10.8%
3.1%
All mentions
73.9%
12.7%
9.7%
1.9%
1.7%
Total percentage
100.0%
100.1%
100.0%
99.9%
Total number
24
57
3,851
6,191
Glass, specified
Stained glass
Enamel
Blown glass
36.7%
10.0%
55.6%
34.4%
10.0%
50.2%
32.1%
17.7%
53.9%
32.6%
13.6%
Total percentage
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.1%
Total number
30
90
5,382
9,390
Leather, specified
Suede
Tanning
50.0%
50.0%
87.5%
12.5%
50.0%
50.0%
81.9%
18.1%
Total percentage
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Total number
2
8
240
664
Paper, specified
Decoupage
Book arts
Handmade paper
62.5%
37.5%
70.0%
25.0%
5.0%
57.4%
42.6%
61.6%
36.6%
1.8%
Total percentage
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Total number
8
20
1,627
2,323
in specified paper subcategories.
This estimating procedure has the follow-
ing shortcomings :
the average membership size of 415 does not
reflect differences in medium popularity;
some members of an organization may not
work in any medium; members of single-
medium organizations may also work in other
media; members of general-media organiza-
tions may be oriented to the listed media
in many different proportions; and the
members of general-media organizations may
work in one or more of the listed media;
no adjustment is made for nonresponse to
the survey or for multiple organization
memberships .
The forthcoming survey of the members them-
selves will provide the basis for further
improvement of these estimates.
49
Table 23 (continued)
Medium
Organizations
Artists
Primary mentions
All mentions
Primary mentions
All mentions
Multimedia
Dolls and toys 29.7%
28.4%
25.2%
27.2%
Other
18.9%
20.2%
19.2%
19.4%
Clothing
16.2%
14.7%
11.9%
13.4%
Nature crafts
5.4%
11.9%
8.5%
10.9%
Indian arts
5.4%
5.5%
12.4%
9.5%
Kitchen crafts
8.2%
3.7%
6.5%
4.2%
Heritage crafts
2.7%
0.9%
6.2%
3.6%
Early American
2.7%
3.7%
1.8%
2.3%
Soft goods
2.7%
2.8-5
2.4%
2.3%
Xmas crafts
2.7%
2.8-s
1.8%
Z- • <fe xi
Children
2.7%
1.8%
1.8%
1.8%
Czech folk
2.7%
0.9%
2.4%
1.4%
Beach crafts
1.8%
0.9%
Miniatures
0.9%
—— ~*
0.8%
Total percentage
100.0%
100.0%
100.1%
99.9%
Total number
37
109
6,705
11,484
Other media
Lapidary
23.0%
18.5%
25.3%
Z dt • 2. is
Tole
26.2%
18.5%
24.4%
20.7%
Beadwork
21.3%
16.9%
17.7%
16.8%
Candles
3.3%
5.6%
5.6%
6.6%
Egg decor
J • J "6
4.0%
5.6%
5.2%
Calligraphy
3.3%
6.5%
2.3%
4.5%
Plastics
1.6%
7.3%
1.5%
4.1%
Shuck work
J • J "8
5.6%
2.3%
3.7%
Flower arranging
3.3%
4.8%
2.7%
3.7%
Ivory
J • O *6
3.2%
3.1%
J • £*%
Kites
1.6%
0.8%
4.0%
2.8%
Bird carving
J • o %
1.6%
3.1%
2.1%
Brooms
2.4%
1.5%
Bread
1.6%
1.6%
1.2%
1.4%
Featherwork
1.6%
0.8%
1.2%
0.8%
Other
1.6%
— —
0.7%
Total percentage
100.0%
99.7%
100.0%
100.0%
Total number
61
124
10,304
14,885
50
APPENDIX B
REGIONS AND DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTRY AS DEFINED BY
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
REGION
DIVISION
STATES
Northeast
New England
Middle Atlantic
Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont
New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania
North Central
East North Central
West North Central
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Ohio, Wisconsin
Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota
South
South Atlantic
East South Central
West South Central
Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Maryland, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Virginia,
West Virginia
Alabama, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Tennessee
Arkansas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma , Texas
West
Mountain
Pacific
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Utah, Wyoming
Alaska, California, Hawaii,
Oregon, Washington
51
REPORTS IN THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT
FOR THE ARTS RESEARCH DIVISION SERIES
Since 1976 the Research Division of the
National Endowment for the Arts has been
studying matters of interest to the arts
community and issuing reports based on its
findings. Copies of the reports may be or-
dered from the Publishing Center for Cul-
tural Resources, 625 Broadway, New York
City 10012 at the prices noted below.
#14 Audience Development: An Examination
of Selected Analysis and Prediction Tech-
niques Applied to Symphony and Theatre
Attendance in Four Southern Cities. 4 8
pages. January 1981. ISBN 0-89062-097-0
$2.50
#15 Economic Impact of Arts and Cultural
Institutions: Case Studies in Columbus,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, St. Louis, Salt Lake
City, San Antonio, and Springfield. 102
pages. January 1981. ISBN 0-89062-106-3
$3.50
Checks should be made payable to "Publish-
ing Center." Prices include postage and
handling; no state or local sales tax is
applicable.
#1 Employment and Unemployment of Artists:
1970-1975. 32 pages. April 1976. $2.50
#2 To Survey American Crafts: A Planning
Study. 32 pages. July 1977. $2.50
#3 Understanding the Employment of Actors.
36 pages. September 1977. $2.00
#4 Arts and Cultural Programs on Radio and
Television. 92 pages. September 1977 . $3.50
#5 Where Artists Live: 1970. 80 pages.
October 1977. $3.00
#6 Economic Impact of Arts and Cultural
Institutions: A Model for Assessment and
a Case Study in Baltimore. 96 pages.
November 1977. $3.50
#7 Minorities and Women in the Arts: 19 70.
32 pages. January 1978. $2.50
#8 The State Arts Agencies in 1974: All
Present and Accounted For. 160 pages.
April 1978. $4.50
#9 Audience Studies of the Performing
Arts and Museums: A Critical Review. 106
pages. November 1978. $3.00
#10 Self-Employment, Migration, and House-
hold and Family Characteristics of Artists:
1970. 32 pages. November 1978. $2.00
#11 Conditions and Needs of the Profes-
sional American Theatre. 132 pages. May
1981. ISBN 0-89062-076-8 $4.50
#12 Artists Compared by Age, Sex, and
Earnings in 1970 and 1976. 54 pages.
January 1980. ISBN 0-89062-077-6 $2.50
#13 Craft Artist Membership Organizations
1978. 52 pages. January 1981. ISBN
0-89062-089-X. $3.50
52
Produced and distributed by Publishing Center for Cultural Resources, 625 Broadway, New York City 10012. Price (incl. postage): $3.
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11