President’s Message
Spring has sprung, and it looks like The Reading-Berks Guild is budding also! Our Spring Show is ready to happen on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market at 740 Noble Street in Kutztown, PA. If you want to be part of this event and haven’t reserved your spot, there is still time. The show committee is already busy planning some new things for our 75th Juried Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival. It looks to be quite a celebration.
Right around the corner is our April general meeting. This meeting will be a night to remember. First, this is the night four lucky mini-grant winners will be chosen, and one of them could be you. Please fill out the application that is on our website and bring it with you to the meeting. You have to be present to win. Secondly, the famous Berks County Intermediate Unit Art Show is all set up downstairs at the GoggleWorks. By our meeting date, the panel of judges will have selected the winners of the Stanley Seltz Student Awards. This is a great opportunity for all of us to see the amazing young talent that abounds here in Berks County.
New voices on our Board this year are bringing new ideas to our chapter. We would like to hear more new voices on some of our committees. We were founded in 1945. This makes us the oldest chapter in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen; however, we want and need your new ideas to keep us moving forward.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Your President,
Barry L. Bennecoff
Programs
This is not a joke! We really have a meeting on April Fool’s Day!
Did you apply for a mini-grant? You can’t win if you don’t bring your application with you. Four winners will be randomly selected at the April meeting. Applicants must be present to win and will receive their grant check at the meeting.
The program portion will be enjoying the incredible student artwork displayed on the first floor of the Goggleworks. These amazing Berks County students have so much talent and emotion in their work. Let’s honor that by absorbing ourselves in their creations.
Program Chair,
Amy Langman
programs@rbcrafts.org
Spring Show
Our Spring Show is only a month away.The Application on our web site is open until April 14th. If you are not selling, please plan to join us and bring a shopping friend.
If you applied for the Spring Show, I’m sure you noted the new on-line application process. This is our test bed for doing other things using a web-based process. Future plans are to include the fall show application as well as ticket sales on-line and at the door. Thanks to the web crew for making this happen.
We do have a date for the fall show; however, the University has yet to given us the “word”. Members who attended the March meeting were told the date; however, everyone had to swear not to tell anyone who did not attended. You Just had to be there.
Have a wonderful Spring and make sometime for our guild.
Show Chair,
Steve Hunter
festivals@rbcrafts.org
Social Media
Facebook and Instagram
We’re starting to promote the artisans that will be attending our Spring Show on May 3, 2025. Please help us to spread the word by Liking and Sharing our Spring Show Event and our Artisan Posts.
- On Facebook see Reading-Berks Guild Spring Show Event
- On Facebook see Reading-Berks Guild Artisan Posts
- On Instagram see Reading-Berks Guild
If participating in the show, please send us high-quality images of your work so we can showcase it. Need some tips? Check out this guide to capture your best shots.
Email your images to images@rbcrafts.org as soon as possible.
Thank you for helping us make this show a success!
Thank you
Lisa Short,
Social Media Chair
social-media@rbcrafts.org
BCTV
”Your Berks Craftsmen” this month is talking about our Spring Fine Art and Craft Festival that will take place at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market on May 3, 2025 from 9 AM to 3 PM. It was so great to have several of our fine artists and craftsmen come into the BCTV studio and record not one, but two, fantastic shows highlighting our Festival.
Both of these shows are currently being shown everywhere. Share with your friends. They want to see you on TV!
Find BCTV on air and online:
Comcast Reading Channel 15
Comcast-Southern Berks Channel 96
Service Electric Channel 19
These channels are streaming online 24-7 at www.bctv.org
BCTV is available on Roku, search for BCTV Berks – HOW TO VIDEO
You Tube Channel
Access Your Berks Craftsmen directly.
Your Host of “Your Berks Craftsmen”,
Kay L. Bennecoff
Standards
Our jury session was held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Thank you to the Standards Committee and especially Louise in helping with the jury selection. They viewed and accepted three new members to the Reading Berks Guild of Craftsmen.
The new members are:
• Danette Posey with Wet Felting
• Cindy Markovcy with Vintage Dolls and Mice
• Rebecca Manoogian with Fiber and Zentange.
They will be at our Spring Show on May 3. Please extend them a warm welcome.
The next jury session will be on September 2, 2025, in room 325 at the GoogleWorks. If interested in being juried, you must be a member of the Reading Berks Guild of Craftsmen for at least three months. Click for more information or an application
Standards Chairperson,
Diane Phalen
standards@rbcrafts.org
Education
This month the GoggleWorks is hosting the 2025 BCIU Secondary Art Exhibition. A guild committee met at the end of March to view the student pieces and select the winners of this year’s Stanley Seltz Awards. There will be over 2000 pieces on display for the public to view from now until April 29th. On April 13th the Guild will be presenting our awards to the winners. I will also be interviewing student winners after the Awards Ceremony with the help of BCTV. The talent showcased at this event is quite impressive, so make sure and come out to the GoggleWorks to see it before the end of the month!
Education Chair,
Paula Conrow
Membership
The State Guild website currently shows that there are 150 members of the Reading-Berks Guild chapter.
Please don’t forget that when joining or renewing your membership for the Guild that you select the Reading-Berks Chapter, so that you can get the extra benefits of our specific guild chapter. Joining is easy and is done through the PACrafts.orgwebsite
This will be the last newsletter report for me in this position. It is with excited anticipation that after over five years of working as the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen membership chair that I hand over the duties to a very capable John Paul Warren. John will be adding a new perspective to this position with fresh energy. I look forward to his new take on this job.
I will be moving on to the Social Media chair position for the chapter and hopefully be lending my support to that piece of the puzzle. Let me know if you have questions about our presence on the internet and how we come across to our community.
Remember that we are always looking for volunteers in our positions and at our spring and holiday festivals. We need help with many parts of the shows that we pull together for everyone.
Thank you for your membership to our guild!
Outgoing Membership Chair,
Gary Rosborough
membership@rbcrafts.org
Pennsylvania State Guild of Craftsmen
The annual Chapter Forum was held on March 22nd at the guild office in Lancaster in person and zoom. Nine of our ten chapters were able to join us. A recording of the event will be sent to all chapter presidents and the PGC board.
The Art Fair Experience Workshop – April 5
This class offers essential strategies for succeeding in the competitive world of fine art and craft fairs. In the morning, beginners will learn about booth design, fair applications, and booth etiquette, while the afternoon will focus on advanced topics for experienced participants, including choosing the right shows, inventory planning, pricing, branding, marketing, and salesmanship. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this session provides practical tools to grow your art fair business.
10am – 2:30pm $10/member In-
Applications open until April 15th for the Fall Fine Craft Fair at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, PA on September 27 & September 28, 2025. All mediums have been reopened except jewelry. As a member in good standing, you and a guest will be admitted free when attending a Fine Craft Fair. This may or may not be available at shows presented by the chapters, whether you are a member of said chapter or not – verify before visiting. Volunteers always get in free!!!!
The Joint Chapter/Membership Committee suggests all members update their member profile on the guild’s Members page. Why? Because the guild is recognized for quality craftsmanship and there are organizations who might be looking for you! The latest example is Historic Bethlehem viewing our member pages for potential demonstrators and teachers who create crafts of the early Moravians.
Volunteer opportunities at the PA Guild of Craftsmen:
• Fine Craft as a Business creates programs that benefit members directly.
• The Standards Committee upholds the level of exceptional ability and work of true excellence for which the guild is known.
• Education finds new workshops, teachers, and teaching locations.
• The Show Committee assists the PDC with the Fine Craft Fairs.
• Community Outreach creates programs that take crafts to the public and is usually a free event to attendees.
• Joint Chapter/Membership presents meetings for chapter boards on a range of topics, assists the creation of new chapters, and has changed the Policies & Procedures by adding the “Dual” membership category.
Each of these committees has a positive impact on the guild and its chapters. Contact Denise Wilz for direct contacts.
PGC – Reading-Berks Guild Representative,
Denise Wilz
Denise@wilzpottery.com
Events
General Meetings (1st Tuesday of Month)
• April 1, 2025 at 7 PM at the Goggle Works, check the board for room number.
Spring Show: First Saturday in May.
This year May 3, 2025.
The Gunmaker’s Fair at Kempton
This year’s fair is July 27-29, 2025.
Craig Koller, executive director of the 2024 Kutztown Folk Festival, stated he is helping the folks who organize the Gunmaker’s Fair at Kempton. They are looking for craftsmen who would like to participate, and Craig thought Reading Berks Guild may have some folks who might be interested. The fair focuses on 18th century craftsmanship. The craftsmen would be in outdoor tents with walls, similar to the Folk Festival. Set up is July 26. The fair is July 27 through July 29 with July 29 being a half day. If any of our traditional craftsmen are interested please email polizzifam@nether.net with any questions or for further details.
Folk Arts on the Farm
This year July 4-5, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM each day.
This show is recommended by Keith Brinsenhoff who is doing the show. It is held at 2822 Lime Port Pike, Coopersburg, PA 18036. The coordinator is Debi Rice. She can be reached at 484-239-4925 or via email.
Historic Schaefferstown:
Annual Cherry Fair on June 28, 2025 from 10 AM – 4 PM
Harvest Fair on September 13, 2025 from 10 AM – 4 PM and September 14, 2025 from 11:30 AM – 4 PM.
Both Festivals are held on the beautiful Alexander Schaeffer Farm in Schaefferstown, PA. Please call 717-949-2244 or email Historic Schaefferstown for more information.
Attention Woodworkers
If you are interested in any walnut, cherry, oak, or poplar, please contact Barry at 610-562-7226 for further details.
Newsletter
If you would like to put something in the Newsletter, please contact us at newsletter@rbcrafts.org
Newsletter Editor,
Nancy Vardjan