Our Story: The Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi
AN INSPIRED VISION
Since 1973.
“Craft work in Mississippi - like our music, art, literature and history - is as much a part of what makes Mississippi distinctive as our natural resources.”
Our mission at the Craftsmen’s Guild is a simple one …
To preserve, promote, market, educate, and encourage excellence in regional crafts, believing that contact with the skilled work of the hand enhances the lives of both the producers who express themselves through their craft and the patrons who seek out and appreciate unique objects.
The Idea.
Long before “creative economy” and “cultural tourism,” Governor William Waller theorized that organizing and fostering Mississippi’s craft artisans would benefit the state’s economy, image, and tourism.
In 1973, Governor Waller put into motion what would become the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, and ever since, the Guild has been proving him right.
For over five decades, the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi has helped craftsmen make a living from their craft, enforced high standards, and provided educational programs to pass along both craft skills and an appreciation for them to future generations.
The Guild is headquartered in the 20,000 square-foot, multi-functional William Lowe “Bill” Waller, Sr. Craft Center that hosts everything from a spacious retail gallery, classroomsand studios to a special events venue and visitors’ center.