Handmade Arcade

Specialties

Handmade Arcade returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on December 6, 2014.

Handmade Arcade (HA), founded in 2004, is Pittsburgh’s first and largest independent craft fair. Now in its eleventh year, HA brings young, innovative crafters and progressive do-​it-​yourself designers to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on December 6, 2014 to sell, their handmade, locally produced, and offbeat wares at a bustling marketplace. A highly anticipated annual event, HA attracts more than 8,000 attendees in one day. HA provides craft artists working outside mainstream and fine arts sectors with a grassroots, high-​visibility venue to sell wares, build community, network, and share their artistic practice.

History

Established in 2004.

Marking its 11^th anniversary, and its third appearance at Downtown’s centrally located and eco-​friendly Convention Center, Handmade Arcade is guaranteed to be the shopping experience of the 2014 holiday season – with over 150 innovative craft vendors from Pittsburgh, the region and the country coming together for the market’s largest show to date.

Pittsburgh’s first and largest independent craft fair, Handmade Arcade was founded to provide grassroots, independent crafters with an opportunity to show and sell their wares to the public, and to create an annual alternative to traditional craft and fine art fairs in Pittsburgh. Every year, the event’s planning group receives more than 350 applications from around the region and country, which are carefully reviewed by a volunteer committee as well as by guest jurors including artists from the Pittsburgh community.

Handmade Arcade attendees are active supporters of small, independent and locally owned businesses.

Meet the Manager

H A.

Manager

Handmade Arcade is organized annually by a collective of creative Pittsburghers who have helped to shape and bolster Pittsburgh’s independent craft scene over the past nine years. Founded in 2004 – when no events in Pittsburgh or the region served the burgeoning DIY craft community – Handmade Arcade provides crafters working outside the mainstream and fine arts sectors with a grassroots high-​visibility venue to sell their wares and build community. Previous events have drawn nearly 10,000 attendees. In 2007 and 2009, Handmade Arcade received The People’s Choice Award for Best Arts Event from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Activities organized by Handmade Arcade have been covered by numerous local and national media outlets, including Pittsburgh Magazine, Pittsburgh Post-​Gazette, The New York Times, Salon, Venus Magazine, KDKA-​TV, and National Public Radio. KDKA-​TV, and National Public Radio.