How to Become a Guild Member

The Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi represents approximately 400 artisans whose fine works range from traditional items, such as quilts, baskets, wood-carvings, and blacksmithing, to contemporary items, including clay sculpture, fused glass, handcrafted jewelry, and mixed media art.

Membership is open to all whose work reflects a high degree of competence, professional standards, and artistry in a specific medium and category. Craftsmen working in more than one medium or category must apply for each medium and/or category separately.

Membership is available for individuals, and two or more people may apply as a studio (two or more artisans working under a designated leader). Acceptance of group membership is decided by the Standards Committee on a case-by-case basis.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

Benefits include:

Galleries – Exclusive ability to display and sell work at the Guild’s gallery in the Bill Waller Craft Center in Ridgeland

Festival/Showcases – Option to show and sell work at all sanctioned Guild events, including the award-winning Chimneyville Arts Festival, held the first weekend in November at the Bill Waller Craft Center in Ridgeland, Mississippi

Exhibits – Opportunity to use the George Berry Gallery in the MS Craft Center for exhibition and sale of work (available on a first-come, first-served basis)

Teaching Opportunities – Eligibility to teach classes, be an instructor at craft camps, and act as a paid demonstrator for field trips

Referrals - Given to individuals, collectors, buyers, designers, and wholesalers; to other national and international festival organizers

Promotion - Opportunity to promote work through all media and the general public; invitations to special members’ meetings, workshops, and social events

Networking – inclusion in the member-only Facebook group for information exchange with other craftsmen about shows, supplies, marketing, etc; monthly e-newsletter

Reciprocal Membership – The Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi and the Louisiana Guild have an agreement that allows members in good standing in either Guild to join the other without having to submit for the initial jury review; Membership dues are required, and all membership requirements must be followed, but the initial jury process and fee are waived.

Member Benefits & Requirements

Eligibility for Guild membership is determined through a jury review process held twice a year. One is held in March and one in August, with applications and work samples due to the Guild the last Friday in February and the last Friday in July, both at 5 pm. The Membership Application, along with the $30 jury fee and other required submissions (see below), must be submitted by the application deadline.

Examples of work may be submitted in more than one medium (wood, clay, glass, metal, etc.), but each medium must have separate applications and documents. Many craft items fall into a gray area, so applicants must strive to identify the medium and the category. The committee will reclassify if necessary.

Standards Review Process

The Standard Committee is composed of exhibiting members representing each medium, appointed for three-year terms by the Guild President. The President is a voting member of the committee, which meets twice a year to jury prospective members. Exhibiting members are re-evaluated every three years for nine consecutive years before becoming a fellow and thus no longer required to submit for further reviews.

Each piece of work is handled and assessed carefully by every member of the committee. Work made from pre-assembled commercial kits is not acceptable. A very high degree of skill and competence must be evident. Small details are considered. Photographs, resumes, and artists’ statements are also reviewed by the committee as an open discussion is held and experts in the medium are consulted. An artisan’s emerging potential is considered, and each committee member scores each entry using an impartial ballot.

After each ballot has been filled, initial scores are combined and then divided by four (four areas of evaluation) to arrive at a final score. An applicant must receive a score of 3.5 to be accepted for membership. Applicants not asked to become members may resubmit as early as the next scheduled jury if the applicant feels his/her work has improved sufficiently. Applicants who are not accepted may also request a current member in their medium to mentor them in preparation for the next jury session. If the applicant requests a mentor and works with them, the $30 jury fee will be waived for the next jury the applicant submits to.

Professional Resume

You may use some of these categories, but it is not required that you include all of them. Design the resume to fit your personal professional career.

• Present Position/Employment

• Education – college courses if applicable, craft classes you have taken; people with whom you studied, etc.

• Professional Organizations to which you belong

• Exhibits/Publications

• Award/Honors

• Demonstrations/Teaching Experience/Programs/Presentations

Artist Statement

• When did you begin learning your craft?

• What or who influenced what you do?

• How is your craft different from others in the same area of specialty?

• What is your process?

• Where do you draw inspiration?

Work Samples and Photographs

Submit three (3) examples of your best work from the last three years and five (5) photographs, showing range and variety as much as possible within the chosen medium and category. Although the criteria will vary according to medium and category, the committee is looking for elements such as functionality, creativity, and unique design, as well as craftsmanship (smooth edges, uniformity, seamless joints, finished edges, etc.).

Applications, photos, and work samples should be shipped or hand-delivered to:

Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, Inc.
Waller Craft Center
950 Rice Road
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157

(601) 856-7546

Office hours are subject to change; please check social media or call first. Hand-delivered pieces must be picked up within two weeks of the review, and adequate shipping materials and postage must be submitted with mailed applications for return. Note: hand-delivered pieces may be picked up starting on the Tuesday following the committee’s Saturday review. Notification regarding membership will be sent by mail within two weeks of the standard review.

Pay Dues – Individual Membership is $100 and Studio (2 or more people) is $125. Dues should be paid on January 1st and will be considered delinquent as of February 1st. After that, a $25 late fee is charged.

Additionally, members must do one of the following each year:

• Demonstrate: Members are encouraged to demonstrate their craft at the Bill Waller Craft Center in Ridgeland or in a Guild-sanctioned event. Unless specified otherwise, craftsmen must complete their demonstration by November 1st of each year.

• Contribute: Become a “friend” with a minimum donation of $100.

• Fellows are exempt from the additional requirements of a demonstration or donation, but still pay annual dues.

After acceptance into the Guild, a member’s work is reviewed every three years. After nine consecutive years of membership, and the successful completion of four standards reviews, a member becomes a FELLOW in their tenth year with no jury requirements thereafter.

Maintaining high standards for craft is important for everyone. Failure to maintain consistent standards may result in probation or expulsion. Members’ work is subject to review at all Guild events and routine checks of the retail galleries.

We offer a reciprocal membership agreement to the members of the Louisiana Crafts Guild to become a member of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.

For more information about reciprocal information in the “Louisiana Reciprocal Membership Process” page.