Founded in 1935 during the height of the Great Depression by a group of artists and craftspeople banding together for mutual support, the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society was deeply influenced by the international Arts & Crafts movement. We centered our relationship to natural materials, and our striving to create a more just and equitable society, where art and craft are valued and accessible to all. Our founders were equally inspired by the newly identified Japanese Mingei tradition, in preserving age-old craft traditions in the making of beautiful objects of daily use, by and for ordinary people, and the personal and societal health that comes from doing so.
For nearly twenty years after its founding, the Society carried on its activities in members’ homes and in various public buildings in Lexington, Massachusetts. In 1952, the Society was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit regional education center, and in 1953, broke ground for our current home at 130 Waltham Street. Additions to the building were constructed in 1965 and 1973. In 2023, LexArt transitioned to become a public-facing community resource, open and
accessible to all. 2025 finds us celebrating our 90th anniversary,
expanding on the legacy and mission of our founding members.
Our Mission
To spark joy, enrich lives, and build community through the practice, teaching, and sharing of art and craft.
Our Vision
The human need to create is celebrated, encouraged, and embraced.
Our Values
We are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all
We embody generosity and a spirit of service
We foster curiosity, creativity and collaboration
We demonstrate kindness and respect for one another
We fervently believe that creative exploration helps us understand ourselves, each other, our commonality and binds us together
Our Goals
Cherish and pass-on traditional methods of craft.
Acknowledge and welcome diverse and contrasting voices.
Celebrate new perspectives and ideas.
Increase the community’s knowledge, appreciation and awareness of art and craft
Be a vibrant center of creativity and growth, providing ladders of learning and pathways of access and engagement.
LexArt offers five fully equipped studios for Ceramics, Metalworking, Painting, Weaving, and Woodworking. Within these studios there are additional studio groups including: Polymer & Beading, Photography, Needle Arts, and Decorative Arts. Learn more below.
