Diana Baird N’Diaye Named Honorary Fellow of American Craft Council

Diana Baird N’Diaye, Lead Curator of the African American Craft Initiative at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, was named one of the Honorary Fellows of the American Craft Council.

Since 1975, the American Craft Council has recognized people who have made an outstanding contribution to the crafts in America by awarding the distinction of Fellow of the Council. The body of awardees is known collectively as the College of Fellows. ACC names new fellows every other year.

To be nominated, an artist must demonstrate leadership in the field, outstanding ability as an artist, and 25 years or more of professional achievement as an American craftsperson. Awardees are nominated by the active College of Fellows and a small group of guest nominators. The final selection of the cohort is made by the ACC Awards sub-committee, whose members include only current Fellows—making this distinction even more meaningful because it is not awarded by critics, scholars, or collectors, but by one’s peers.

In addition to artists, individuals who have made their own significant contribution to the craft movement are nominated and elected as Honorary Fellows, their designation including all the distinction and recognition of the College. The significance of the College of Fellows to the field cannot be overstated, and the value of material related to the individuals has proportional importance to the preservation and scholarship of American craft.

Learn more on the American Craft Council website.