The Shop at Guilford Art Center Reopens with Its Holiday Shopping Event
Mugs, Courtesy of Susan Bach
Guilford, CT – The Shop at Guilford Art Center re-opens on October 1 with the annual Holiday Shop. Once again, the Shop and Gallery will be filled with fine handmade crafts by over 180 American artists — just in time to get a head-start on your holiday shopping!
Normally, the popular Holiday Shop opens in November, but opening earlier gives shoppers more flexibility and time to shop. “We’re ready to re-open our Shop now, so why not offer holiday shopping right away?” says Maureen Belden, GAC Executive Director. “We’re so excited to open our doors after being closed for six months. Our staff has been working diligently to source new items from artists, who are also thrilled to be able to sell their goods again. It’s been a tough time for everyone, so we hope people will come in to support both the Art Center and the artists.”
Guilford Art Center’s Holiday Shop, originally known as Artistry, offers distinctive holiday gifts from artists throughout the country. The festive setting makes this annual event one of the Shoreline’s most treasured shopping experiences. Visitors will find a wide range of fine handmade crafts in all price ranges, including ceramics, candles, glass, fine art, metal, jewelry, clothing and textiles, wood, ornaments, cards, specialty foods, soap, leather, toys and more. All proceeds benefit Guilford Art Center’s education and community programs.
The Holiday Shop will be open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 12:00 - 4:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am – 4:00pm. The Shop is open for online shopping as well as, with convenient pick-up by appointment.
All shoppers will be asked to observe social distancing and wear masks covering their nose and mouth. GAC is following all state-approved guidelines to safely accommodate the community in all areas of the Shop, School and Gallery. For all information on GAC’s reopening safety protocols, visit www.guilfordartcenter.org/covid.
For more information about the Holiday Shop, online shopping, and a current list of classes and workshops, please visit www.guilfordartcenter.org or contact GAC at info@guilfordartcenter.org.
About Guilford Art Center
The Guilford Art Center is a non-profit school, shop and gallery established to nurture and support excellence in the arts. Through classes for adults and children, gallery programs, a shop of contemporary crafts, and special events, the Center fulfills its mission to provide opportunities for the public to participate in the arts, to experience their cultural and historical diversity, and to appreciate the process and product of creative work. Founded in 1967 (as the Guilford Handcraft Center), the Center evolved from the first Handcraft Expo, held on the Guilford Green in 1957. It currently serves over 2,000 students in classes, presents juried and invitational exhibits of art in the Center’s gallery and operates a shop of fine, handmade American crafts year-round. The Center also presents the Craft Expo, held on the Guilford Green each year in July, that features works by more than 180 of the country’s most distinguished artisans and is a much-anticipated annual event for the shoreline community.
