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 of Mississippi is simple:
To preserve, promote, 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 Lowe “Bill” Waller, Sr. theorized that organizing and fostering Mississippi’s craft artisans would benefit the state’s economy, image, and tourism.
In 1973, Governor Waller set into motion what would become the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, and since then, the Guild has proven his theory to be true every day.
For over five decades, with high standards, the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi has helped craftsmen make a living from their craft and provided educational programs to pass along both craft skills and appreciation to future generations.
The Guild is headquartered in the Bill Waller Craft Center, which was built in 2007 and named after Governor Waller. Our multi-functional Craft Center, spanning 20,000 square feet, is home to a spacious retail gallery, classrooms, and studios, and it also doubles as a special events venue and visitors’ center.