Crafting a Future (CAF)
Craft Alliance’s Crafting a Future program is a unique and comprehensive mentoring program designed to provide intensive education in craft arts to high school students.
Crafting a Future is a FREE portfolio-building experience open to students in the St. Louis Metro area, 9th-12th grade. Students work with professional teaching artists for intensive education and hands-on experience in our ceramics, fibers, and metals studios. In addition to creating a body of artistic work, students develop professional skills and connect with nationally and internationally recognized artists through exhibitions, lectures, and guest artist workshops. The year culminates in a group exhibition at Craft Alliance.
The details:
- The program is split into two 14-week sessions, running September to May, and students can choose to participate in one or both sessions.
- Students must commit to a majority of Saturdays in their cohort and participate in 5 volunteer hours.
- Students can participate for multiple years, expanding their skills in a chosen medium.
- Generous donors and sponsors allow us to provide this program free to participants. There is a $30 fee per session to offset material costs. Fee assistance is available.
Apply for the 2025-26 Crafting A Future Cohort!
Admittance to Crafting a Future is by application only - applications are due May 20th.
For more information, contact our Education & Programs Director, Grant Benoit, at grant.benoit@craftalliance.org, or 314-725-1177 x. 110.
Successful Applicants
- Are passionate and dedicated high school students or exceptionally talented 8th-grade students.
- Show potential for artistic growth and development.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in contemporary craft and desire to grow as an artist.
- Are committed to participating fully in the program
- Can balance the program demands with schoolwork and activities.
- Are open to learning, collaboration, and constructive feedback.
Nick Merlo
Crafting a Future graduate
Rhode Island School of Design student
“The Crafting a Future Program is really what helped me prepare my portfolio for applying to school – the level of work, the repertoire of things to show what I’m learning…To be learning under working artists, you get that side of the story…[And] I was able to think more creatively in terms of problem-solving.”
Click on the image to learn more about Nick’s journey.
“This program is not just about developing confidence in their ability. To create art is one thing, but my teen has been on a path of figuring out who they are. This is such a pivotal moment in these kids’s lives. These days-these teenage years-are so, so impactful. Having Craft Alliance, the support of all the teachers, a caring community, it’s wonderful.”
CAF Parent
“The best part of CAF for me was the relaxing environment and good materials. I also gained a lot of experience working in art mediums that I did not have before. I really liked getting to work in an environment with a lot of other artists that I could learn from and relate to. I have learned more ways to appreciate art by looking at the work of the other artists and instructors here.”
CAF Student
“One thing that amazes me about Crafting A Future is my child is around kids who may have more talents or more experience than she has in certain things, but yet she doesn’t feel less than. It just amazes me. The kids celebrate with each other. There is encouragement without competition…What I see is each kid gets encouraged and supported but not compared.”
CAF Parent
Benefits of the Crafting-A-Future Program
Intensive education and hands-on experience in craft arts.
Guidance and mentorship from professional artists, enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills.
Opportunities to exhibit work and build connections with prominent artists and peers.
Access to materials and supplies, studio space, and rental tools and materials for use at home.
Returning CAF students receive a complimentary Friend Membership to Craft Alliance and one free class or workshop.
Support in developing professional skills and portfolio for college applications.