More about Brookfield Craft Center

Brookfield Craft Center is recognized as one of the finest professional schools for creative study in America, dedicated to teaching traditional and contemporary craft skills, and fostering the appreciation of fine craftsmanship.  Local and nationally-acclaimed artists help students of all ages explore blacksmithing, forging, ceramics, jewelry-making, woodturning, weaving and fiber arts. Special interest classes include marketing, photography, drawing, painting and sculpture and glasswork.

At the Craft Center’s Gallery Gift Shop you can find one-of-a-kind hand-crafted gifts created by more than 150 artists including jewelry, wearable fiber, ceramics, toys, glass, wood, paper and steel, and so much more. All purchases benefit the Craft Center’s education programs and provide support for independent artists. Let’s support Brookfield Craft Center’s Mission to “to teach and preserve the skills of fine craftsmanship and enable creativity and personal growth through craft education.”

Our Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery hosts numerous exhibits each year ranging from Artists on the Rise, an exhibition featuring the works of local high school students to single artist exhibits to A Tradition of Excellence: The Brookfield Craft Center Faculty Show. Artists whose works have been featured in the Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery include: Linda Banks, Joy Brown, Elizabeth MacDonald, Alison Palmer, Missy Stevens, and many more.

When Nancy Hagmayer bought the Old Mill on Whisconier Road for $5 in 1952, she had little idea exactly what to do with it. After spending over a year rebuilding, a multiple of possibilities presented themselves; opening a restaurant, a shop, or a book store. The idea that held particular interest was a place to teach craftwork. After much research and plentiful advice, she filed papers of incorporation and in 1954, the Brookfield Craft Center (BCC) was born.
Since that time the Craft Center has expanded to 6 buildings including reception facilities open to the public. The vintage buildings house seven fully-equipped studios, an exhibition gallery, a retail craft gallery, seasonal gift shop, and housing for visiting faculty.