NANTUCKET, MASS.- The Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) will now refer to its Decorative Arts, a cornerstone of the NHA’s programming, as Heritage Craft to encapsulate the importance of the arts programs offered to the Nantucket community, and beyond. Heritage Craft will maintain current programs with a new, enhanced focus on the tradition of at-risk crafts. Heritage Craft will continue to be led by Artist and NHA’s Director of Heritage Craft, Mary Lacoursiere.
“We are thrilled to be prioritizing this programming and bringing awareness to crafts that are in danger of disappearing due to a lack of training opportunities and visibility. We see a resurgence of interest in all things handmade and are interested in the overlap of traditional crafts and the active community of artisans here on Nantucket. Mary and the incredible instructors we have been fortunate to work with have been stewards of this important work for many years, so it’s time for us to showcase it and share it with a broader audience to preserve these art forms for generations to come.” Said Niles Parker, NHA Gosnell Executive Director.
The NHA has been offering decorative arts programming for over 20 years across its campus, with its center for programming, located at 4 Mill Street, commonly referred to as the 1800 House. Teaching workshops on iconic Nantucket crafts such as lightship baskets, scrimshaw, and other craft forms that include silversmithing, glass blowing, metal work, calligraphy, printmaking, transferware, shell art, fish printing, and so much more. In the spring of 2024, decorative arts extended its programming by offering online workshops and mail-home kits. This implementation made the most popular workshops accessible to everyone.
After examining the UK Red List of Endangered Crafts 2025, an archive focused on lost crafts, it was apparent that traditional Nantucket arts were on the list and at threat. Many hand crafts are endangered due to a lack of trained artisans able to continue their medium. The NHA’s Heritage Craft programming will now place greater emphasis on preserving skills rooted in Nantucket’s history and will create pathways for local craftspeople, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning for all skill levels and audiences.
“We are proud to be a place of learning, making, and carrying on historic practices that lead to an understanding of the importance and satisfaction in handmade craft. We look forward to not only offering our core programs but also developing future opportunities for scholarships and research to ensure the enduring legacy of these traditions and their importance in the culture,” Mary Lacoursiere explained.
