With longer nights and quieter days, winter is the perfect time to finish a creative project—or start something new. As 2024 begins, North House Folk School is starting off the new year with a slate of community programs. Whether it’s an open craft night or a speaker event, community members are invited to campus for a series of free gatherings happening throughout the winter months. 

Community Craft Nights

Have a project you’ve been itching to finish? Bring it to Community Craft Night! Beginning January 9, North House is hosting a series of Community Craft Nights that are free for community members to gather, socialize, and work on craft projects. 

“Community Craft Nights are an open, casual format where anyone can show up and craft together,” said Samantha McCauley, Program Manager at North House Folk School. 

Each Community Craft Night will be hosted by a Resident Artisan from North House’s Artisan Development Program. While anyone is welcome to bring any craft to work on, each week will have a theme led by the host. Rosemaler Tara Austin will host two rosemaling nights; woodworker Mary Tripoli will host an open craft night; and fiber artists Caroline Feyling and Liz O’Brien will each host sessions centered on clothing repair.

Community members can also attend a special Open Craft Night on January 30 with a delegation from Sätergläntan, Sweden’s premier craft school. North House has a special relationship with Sätergläntan—a group of Sätergläntan instructors attended last year’s Wooden Boat Show, and the Resident Artisans will visit the school in March. This year, four students from Sätergläntan, Emilia Eriksby Svensson, Oskar Larsson, Klara Boquist, and Leen De Ridder are visiting North House at the end of January and will lead a Community Craft Night.

“Two of the students are weavers and two are woodworkers,” said McCauley. “Like the other craft nights, it will be an informal gathering, but they’ll bring samples of their crafts and are excited to meet the local community, including but not limited to any folks who are interested in woodworking and weaving.”

Community Craft Nights will take place on most Tuesdays from 6-8pm from January 9-February 27 on the North House campus. Those attending are encouraged to bring their own craft materials, and kids are welcome to attend with an adult. A full schedule is available at northhouse.org. 

Arctic Awe with Pascale Marceau 

In addition to craft nights, community members are invited to campus on Friday, January 5 at 7pm for a presentation by Pascale Marceau. Her presentation Arctic Awe: Rekindling a Sense of Wonder in Canada’s High Arctic details the beauty and challenges of her 7-week Arctic ski journey, from polar bear encounters to breaking through thin ice to rethinking how we see the world and our place within it.  

“Pascale gave a presentation during Winterers’ Gathering, but it was during the day on a weekday so some people who wanted to see it weren’t able to. We’re thrilled to welcome her back so more folks have the chance to hear her speak,” said McCauley. 

Community members can keep an eye out for more free events at North House throughout the winter and spring. Further gatherings will be shared on the North House website and Facebook page.