MA in Critical Craft Studies

Building a Craftscape
The MA in Critical Craft Studies brings together a rotating faculty from multiple disciplines who teach collaboratively and in dialogue with one another.  The program combines using the Warren Wilson College Campus and surrounding area as a classroom with study of craft where students live. The program challenges the boundaries of craft histories and theory, and spans media-specific work to craft-like contemporary art, folk art to artisanal explorations to make space for experiences, knowledge, ways of making, and many cultural contexts. We work to shape an inclusive field: our approach is non-canonical and anti-racist. Research as an applied practice is the principle that connects students’ project work in the Swannanoa/Asheville area to that in their own hometowns, offering training in primary and secondary source analysis and experience while studying and shaping a new field: craft studies.

Program design
The graduate program follows a low-residency model. Students begin each semester in intensive on-site residencies alternating between July on the Warren Wilson College campus and January in downtown Asheville at the Center for Craft, the program’s Founding Partner. Residencies initiate independent semester study of craft history, research methods lab and materials lab, with regular online and off-site meetings with faculty and mentors throughout the remainder of the semester.

The program consists of 2 years plus one additional residency, in which students share their Practicum Projects. Final projects vary; for example, they may be a formal thesis or an exhibition, curricular development to creating a scholarly symposium, or a collection of short form critical writing to podcasts.

To apply
The MA in Critical Craft Studies accepts new students once per year for the semester starting in July. Application to the program includes: a personal essay, an object response to one of two objects provided on the website, up to three additional materials, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs, and a phone interview with the Program Director.

Applications are available online; contact Nathan Wyrick, Director of Admissions at nwyrick [​at​] warren-wilson.edu for program questions.

Applications received by March 1, 2021 will be considered for a limited number of merit-based scholarships.

Core Faculty, Workshop Faculty, and Mentors
Core Faculty workshop their courses collectively, and teach during Residencies through the end of each semester. Workshop Faculty teach during our fall (July) and winter (January) residencies, and bring experience and expertise to strengthen the multi-disciplinary formats. Students work with an advisor from Core Faculty, and mentor throughout each semester to further extend learning, research, and connections. Visit our program website for details about faculty, mentors, and students.

Visit our online information session
Join us on February 6 or 12 for an information session. Register for a session, or contact Nathan Wyrick, Director of Admissions, at nwyrick [​at​] warren-wilson.edu.

Learn more
To learn how we are building craft programming, link to the Faculty Webinar Series at Warren Wilson College presentation by Namita Gupta Wiggers, Program Director: Building a Craftscape: What is a Field and Who Does it Include?

To learn about student research, visit our program website at macraftstudieswwc.com to access and purchase Mapping Craft: This is How We Meet, a student-led publication from the Class of 2020, and Paired Conversations under the Projects tab to listen to students discuss their research with artists, curators, scholars and writers from multidisciplinary backgrounds. All purchases of the publication support scholarships for students who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the program.

Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson is an independent, liberal arts college in Asheville, North Carolina, and is the only national liberal arts college with integrated work and service components. All of Warren Wilson’s undergraduate and graduate degrees are accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: Council on Colleges.