MATERIALS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

The Materials Research Fellowship is a five-month fellowship that will take place from June to October 2025. The Fellowship aims to support innovation in craft by increasing artists’ access to new materials and new ways of thinking through materials. The Materials Research Fellow will receive a $35,000 stipend.

The Materials Collection was developed with the understanding that a signature of craft practice is learning by doing. Craftspeople deepen their understanding of a material and its possible applications through research, exploration, and experimentation. The collection consists of four categories of materials: common, manufactured, metamaterial, and novel sustainable. Novel sustainable materials account for 29% of the collection. These materials are typically sourced, produced, or disposed of to minimize harm to the environment and human health. In light of these considerations, the Materials Research Fellowship aims to support innovation in craft by increasing artists' access to and understanding of sustainable materials.

The Materials Research Fellow will report to the Center’s Program Manager for Research and Ideas. The Fellow will collaborate with artists, makers, and specialists to evaluate and update the Materials Collection, including the in-person installation and online database, material descriptions, and navigation systems. Additionally, the Fellow will conduct research and support the acquisition of new novel sustainable materials. Findings from the Materials Research Fellowship will inform the development of the Center for Craft's new Artist Access and Activation program coming 2026. Finally, the Fellow will use their learning to develop a collections management plan to guide ongoing collections care and maintenance, how the collection is presented to the public, and inform future acquisitions/deacquisitions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Materials Research Fellow will:

• Collection Evaluation: Work with artists and makers to evaluate the Materials Collection webpage, online database, and in-person installation. Provide recommendations on the user experience and existing material descriptions; identify the needs and opportunities to optimize this resource for the benefit of artists.‍
• Collection Development: Based on the Collections Evaluation, research and recommend acquiring additional materials, especially novel sustainable materials.  Facilitate approved acquisitions. Write interpretive materials for new materials. Work with specialists (artists, area experts) to update all the material descriptions to ensure accuracy and artist accessibility. ‍
• Collection Planning: Develop a collections plan to chart the future growth and trajectory of the collection and an Interpretation Plan to guide how future material entries will be written. Assist with future artist activation planning.

The Materials Research Fellow will meet with the Program Manager - Research & Ideas, weekly. The Fellow may attend additional meetings with Center for Craft staff as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Material Research Fellowship is open to individuals who have recently completed graduate studies or those who have commensurate experience, preferably in craft, practice-based research, design research, material research, material science, or library science. Candidates from other academic backgrounds are welcome to apply. Artists, researchers, scholars, creatives, and engineers with expertise in craft, materials studies, design, and artist theory/books/publications are invited to submit proposals. Special consideration will be given to applicants specializing in biomaterials or biofabricated materials, novel sustainable materials, sustainability practices, or public/digital humanities.

• Knowledge of the current trends in design research, material-based research, material sustainability, and the intersection of craft and material relationships.
• Project management skills: ability to multitask, problem-solve, prioritize, and create systems and processes to manage and track projects.
• Organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated planner who can work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills with the intent to develop and maintain positive relationships.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking, meeting facilitation, and the ability to develop texts for both general audiences (labels, didactics, social media, etc.) and specialist audiences (articles, reports).
• Intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a strong desire and capacity to work in a diverse, fast-paced, and non-profit environment.
• Familiarity with Google Drive, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Suite, as well as virtual engagement tools and platforms such as Zoom.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are due by Monday, April 21, 2025 midnight ET. Please submit all materials by email to Mellanee Goodman, Program Manager - Research & Ideas at: mgoodman@centerforcraft.org.  Please send the application form, resume or curriculum vitae (C.V.), and a cover letter to include:

• Your relevant experience
• A personal statement explaining your motivations

The Center for Craft is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against any individual or group based on age, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The Center encourages applications from candidates who can complement the Center for Craft’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion work by offering unique perspectives and understanding of issues impacting groups traditionally under-represented in the field. Applying does not constitute a promise or guarantee of employment.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Located in Asheville, North Carolina, the Center for Craft is a 501(c)3 national nonprofit that increases access to craft by empowering and resourcing artists, organizations, and communities through grants, fellowships, and programs that bring people together.

For over 25 years, the Center for Craft has been at the vanguard of the craft movement, advancing the understanding, prominence, and historical significance of craft and identifying and cultivating the next great researchers and artists in the field. The Center builds on this remarkable foundation through a realigned strategic plan, Craft Matters. Focused on activating resources, catalyzing craft communities, and amplifying craft’s impact, Craft Matters will not only shape the Center’s direction for the next five years but will have far-ranging influence.

MATERIALS COLLECTION OVERVIEW

In September 2024, the Center for Craft opened the Materials Collection, an installation and online repository of over 100 common and innovative craft materials. Audiences can explore materials commonly associated with craft, like wood, metal, clay, glass, and fibers, to materials that reflect the future of craft, like reclaimed post-consumer waste, mycelium, and algae ink. Phase 1 of the Materials Collection was produced in collaboration with multidisciplinary art + design studios Craftwork and Fun Stuff Design. It was made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

This phase addressed our gallery visitors' need for a more scaffolded, hands-on introduction to craft. It focused on building an initial collection of materials, designing a classification system, and prototyping both public and digital interfaces. The goal was to provide an educational tool that inspires audiences to develop new perspectives on materiality and reconsider the role of materials in their daily lives, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of craft. While Phase 1 has focused on how general audiences will use and understand the Collection, we realized that the collection also represents a valuable and unique opportunity to offer artists access to new materials – and new ways of thinking through materials – by positioning craftspeople as material researchers and innovators. With funding from the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation, the Center will begin phase 2 of the Materials Collection development,  focusing on further bundling the collection as a vital resource for artists, enabling them to access new materials and explore creative approaches for using them.

The Materials Collection is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation, and supported, in part, by the Center for Native Health.