The three Ardens, Arden (1900), Ardentown (1922) and Ardencroft (1950), were founded as utopian societies based on the principals of the Single Tax and the Arts & Crafts Movements. The Arts & Crafts Movement was a global crusade that began in Britain as a critique of the Industrial Revolution. Advocates of the movement espoused handcrafted goods as an antidote to the soulless production cycle and diminished aesthetic of items created in factories. From its inception in 1900, Arden enticed artists and craftspeople with dedicated studio space and lodging. Within a decade of its founding, the village was dotted with studios for potters, photographers, weavers, sculptors, furniture makers, writers, musicians, printers, and painters. It even had its own working forge and textile shop. Starting in 1908, Arden had a festival at the end of summer so that artisans could sell off their wares. This was the beginning of the Arden Fair, which continues to this day.

The arts tradition in the Ardens has thrived through the decades, not only by attracting new artists and makers to make their homes here, but also by nurturing the artistic spark of its youth and longtime residents. Today the arts are as integral a part of village life as they were in the early 1900’s and can be experienced across disciplines of theater, music, and dance in addition to visual arts. The Arden Artisans Collective formed to celebrate and encourage our artisans, whose breadth of work is apparent, not only in the variety of mediums represented but also by skill level, from hobbyists and students to nationally recognized professional artists/artisans. Our collective aims to expose members’ works to a larger audience through regional events as well as support our membership through educational and collaborative experiences. To learn more about our organization or to receive information on upcoming events, please sign up for our email list.