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The Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) makes creativity accessible to everyone.

The Museum of Craft and Design is the only museum in San Francisco devoted to craft and design. Founded in 2004, MCD showcases designers, makers and artists through an exciting and distinctive series of craft and design-focused exhibitions and public programs. As a non-collecting institution, the museum actively collaborates with artists, designers, museums, and universities, as well as design venues and practitioners to create inspirational experiences in the world of craft and design for visitors of all ages.

 

Photos: (Above) Courtesy of Matthew Millman. (Right) Courtesy of Henrik Kam
Museum store entrance with jewelry display, scarves, books and more.

MISSION

Through inspired exhibitions and experiential programs, MCD explores the creative process and current perspectives in craft and design.

HISTORY

2024

Museum of Craft and Design celebrates its 20th Anniversary and appoints Nora Atkinson as the new Executive Director.
In the Spring of 2024 MCD’s Co-founder and Executive Director, JoAnn Edwards, retired after over 20 years of visionary and distinguished leadership. Through a nationwide search, led by a committee of national professionals and key board members, Nora Atkinson was selected as MCD’s new Executive Director. Coming from the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington D.C., Atkinson brings to MCD 20 years of experience in some of the leading American art museums focusing in craft and design where she has served in leadership and curatorial roles.
MCD marks its 20th Anniversary milestone in 2024 with four new exhibitions, representing over 130 artists and designers; planning over 75 MakeArt programs in the museum and throughout surrounding communities; and the expansion of MCD’s MakeArt Accessible program.

2020

The Museum of Craft and Design launched the Mobile MakeArt van which began distributing hundreds of MakeArt Kits to food banks, local schools, community partners, and more. MCD also launched MCD@Home providing the virtual opportunity for anyone to participate in a variety of at-home, hands-on projects developed in tandem with MCD’s exhibitions, local artists, and partner organizations.

2019

Celebrating 15 years, the Museum of Craft and Design has welcomed over a half a million visitors from across the globe. Known for its bold and innovative exhibitions and inspiring MakeArt programs for all ages, MCD marks this important milestone with DESIGN15, a year-long celebration connecting craft, design, and community!

2018

MCD announces the launch of MAKE, an after-hours event on the third Thursday of most months, offering a range of dynamic programming, including artist happy hours, hands-on activities and local vendor pop-ups. We also, kicked off MakeArt Family Days, an evolution of MCD’s signature MakeArt programs designed for visitors of all ages. These first Saturday events feature tactile materials introductions for toddlers, guided activities for kids, gallery tours and in-gallery drop-in projects for families.

2015

MCD Parklet opens, considered “the benchmark of Parklets” by SF Planning Department. MCD’s website, sfmcd.org, gets a new look and feel!

2013

Our new home is at 2569 Third Street in the American Industrial Center and opened to the public in April 2013. Our new location allows us to expand our exhibition space and to build our first-ever dedicated space for public programming, including our popular MakeArt workshops.

2012

In February 2012, MCD announces a move to the historic Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.

2010

In the fall of 2010, MCD launches the first of a series of pop-up museums—exhibitions, educational programs, and retail store—in temporary locations throughout San Francisco while searching for a building to purchase as a permanent home.

2004

The Museum of Craft and Design opened on Sutter Street, in San Francisco’s Union Square District, as the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design.

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