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 Updated: 9/21/2012 
The Center for Art in Wood
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Description

The Center displays wood art on site and in our traveling exhibitions and publications. Our International Turning Exchange (ITE) residency program has involved over 100 international residents as it continues through its second decade. The Community Outreach program brings hands-on wood turning and woodworking experience to students throughout the region. The permanent collection contains over 850 objects from around the world, ranging from traditional functional every-day objects to contemporary sculpture. Our research library consists of over 25,000 images, artists' files and books that help preserve the exciting history of wood turning and woodworking and their continuing evolution as a contemporary art form.

Mission

The Center for Art in Wood is an arts and educational institution whose mission is leading the growth, awareness, appreciation and promotion of artists and their creation and design of art in wood and wood in combination with other materials.

History

Since its inception in 1986, the Center for Art in Wood, formerly the Wood Turning Center, has been widely recognized by artists, collectors, scholars and the public as one of the most valuable resources for the education, preservation and promotion of the field of art made from wood. The Center currently houses over 850 permanent collection objects, 25,000 artist files, and annually mounts 4-5 exhibitions of new work and museum collection objects. It stages an 8-week annual International Turning Exchange (ITE) residency program for artists, scholars and photojournalists, and has in-depth education and outreach programs

The Center for Art in Wood grew out of a series of symposia and exhibitions held between 1976 and 1986. The organizers of these events were the LeCoff brothers, Albert and Alan, and Palmer Sharpless who are credited with helping to spur the “field” of wood turning. Today, The Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia stands as an invaluable resource for study by scholars, educators, artists, students, museums, collectors and the general public of finely crafted and conceived wood objects.

Artifact Collections

Our Collection consists of over 1000 hand-made objects from around the world, ranging from traditional functional every-day objects to contemporary sculptures. The Collection serves to conserve, interpret, and present the history and evolution of wood turning from an industrial craft into a contemporary art form.

Research Collections
Collection & Research Request

The Center’s Collection and Library is open to Members of The Center. To help us better facilitate your visit please call the Center at (215) 923-8000, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email info@centerforartinwood.org. Please include in your email the following information: •Name •Address •Phone •Available Time •Brief description of Research Request:

We will be in touch with you to confirm a date for your visit.

Library
Collection & Research Library

Our research library consists of over 25,000 images, artists’ files and 800 books that help preserve the exciting history of wood turning and woodworking and their continuing evolution as a contemporary art form. The Center’s library is open for members of The Center for research. Please call the Center at (215) 923-8000, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for more information or email info@centerforartinwood.org.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars

Appointment required: True

Services
Volunteer

The center is always looking for volunteers at the Center. We frequently need volunteers for everything from office assistance to helping with a special reception. If you would like to volunteer, email lori@centerforartinwood.org. Let us know when you are available (weekly, monthly), and how you’d like to help – office work, greeting visitors, receptions, special events, etc.

Group Tours

Tours generally last one hour and include a history of the Center and a personal tour of the current exhibition in the gallery. Seats are available for those wishing to rest during the visit. The library and collection area is only open by appointment. If your group would like to visit the collection areas the same day, please let us know with your request, this will add an hour onto your tour.

Reservations: The Center offers tours for free with a suggested donation of $5 a person. Please call the Center to make a reservation for a tour at least four weeks in advance. To request a tour please call the Center at (215) 923-8000, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email info@centerforartinwood.org.

Center Store

Available online and in our store include the following: books, objects, DVD's, featured products, tools, toys and special offers. Please see our website for details.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
Address
141 North 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
phone: 215-923-8000
e-mail: info@centerforartinwood.org
home page: www.centerforartinwood.org
contact form: www.centerforartinwood.org/about-the-center/
Report Incorrect Data
Submit Events
Hours of Operation
Tuesday - Saturday10 AM - 5 AM
Sunday - Mondayclosed
Museum Type(s)
Art
Culture
Library
Staff
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

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March 15 - 18, 2025

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Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

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Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

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Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

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Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

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By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

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Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

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Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

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For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

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Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

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MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

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