In The Beginning...
The Craftsmen's Classic organization was founded 35 years ago by the Gilmore
family of Greensboro, NC. Clyde Gilmore, a jewelry maker, wanted to create a "family" of
artists and craftsmen, nationwide, that could stage indoor festivals showcasing
their totally original works and interact one-on-one with the public. The first
such event, the "granddaddy" and prototype of all the others on today's
schedule, was the Christmas Classic, Thanksgiving Weekend, at the Greensboro
Coliseum.
Now...
There are now 10 Craftsmen's
Classics held annually and throughout the year in Columbia
and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;
Richmond, Roanoke and Chantilly, Virginia and Greensboro, North
Carolina. Produced by Gilmore Enterprises, Inc., headquartered
in the city of Greensboro, the organization is managed by the
late founder's son, Executive Director Clyde Gilmore III, one
of the crafts and fine arts industry's most acclaimed and award-winning
promoters. The Classic events have been named more often than
those of any other promoter to the "200 Best" list by
the prestigious Sunshine Artist Magazine and have been named often
as "Top 20 Events" by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Gilmore can also calculate success by the longevity of the Classics
-- most of which are in their 15th to 25th year or more -- and
by the tens of thousands of visitors that eagerly anticipate them
and attend, year after year.
The hallmark of the shows, from the
beginning, is creative excellence and absolute originality in
every specialty. Clyde and his wife,
Tami, design each Classic with a fine balance of crafts and
fine art and the specialties within those areas. There is careful
thought
given to a balance of traditional and contemporary works as
well. More than 6,000 of the country's finest artisans are members;
depending on the size of the facility, there are between 300
and
550 participants in a Craftsmen's Classic show.
If you are interested
in information on becoming an exhibitor, please click
here.
For
more information on any of our Craftsmen’s Classic
Arts & Crafts Festivals, please click on the individual show
links below.
Columbia,
SC — Spring
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Roanoke, VA — Fall
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Richmond,
VA — Spring
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Chantilly, VA — Fall
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Chantilly,
VA — Spring
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Richmond, VA — Christmas
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Greensboro,
NC — Spring
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Columbia, SC — Christmas
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Myrtle
Beach, SC — Summer
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Greensboro,
NC — Christmas
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If you would like to contact us, please click here.
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