American Craft Exposition (ACE) comes to Chicago Botanic Garden to benefit NorthShore’s SAVE MOMS initiative

Feeling crafty? The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem’s (NorthShore) 38^th Annual American Craft Exposition (ACE) will return to the Chicago Botanic Garden September 30 - October 2. ACE is one of the country’s longest running premier fine craft shows and features 100 exceptional artisans exhibiting unique, museum quality work. ACE is a highly competitive juried show featuring eligible media in 14 categories including, baskets, ceramics, fiber decorative, fiber wearable, furniture, glass, contemporary/semi-precious jewelry, fine/precious jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper and wood. Artists’ pieces, ranging from $50 - $5,000+, are available for purchase at the show.

“On behalf of our committee of dedicated volunteers, we are excited to bring ACE back to the Chicago Botanic Garden,” said ACE Co-Chair Leslie Sevcik. “The past two years have presented many challenges for the art community. We are looking forward to a weekend filled with artist interactions as they debut their beautiful hand-crafted work.”

ACE is The Auxiliary’s signature annual fundraiser. Proceeds from ticket sales will support innovative patient care programs at NorthShore – most notably SAVE MOMS, an initiative designed to protect and preserve maternal health before, during and after delivery.

“More than 50,000 women experience the most severe complications during pregnancy and up to 75 percent of maternal deaths in Illinois are thought to be preventable. We can do better. Proceeds from this year’s ACE will help NorthShore’s SAVE MOMS program, to keep moms healthy at all stages of their pregnancy and delivery,” said ACE Co-Chair Gayle Stellas.

The Benefit Preview Party will be held on Thursday, September 29, 6 - 9 p.m., and provide patrons the opportunity to peruse and purchase unique works of art before the Exposition is open to the public. An elegant party with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a festive atmosphere, the Preview Party also offers guests a more personal setting to talk with artists and learn about their work. Preview Party tickets include complimentary parking on Thursday evening.

The cost for one ACE general admission pass (includes Chicago Botanic Garden entry admission) is $18 for Chicago Botanic Garden members and $32 for non-members; additional parking fee applies for non-members. Due to COVID-19, general admission tickets are being issued on a timed ticket entry system and NorthShore will be complying with all CDC and Cook County safety guidelines at the time of the event in partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden. With an expected 8,500 guests attending throughout the weekend, attendees will be required to select a time frame when purchasing their tickets.

Though proceeds do not come from artist sales, many artists participate in the voluntary ‘Craft for a Cause’ program, in which artists make contributions to ACE’s funding cause. Additional funds from ACE’s raffle and online auction will go to patient care programs at NorthShore, including SAVE MOMS. Raffle tickets are one for $20 or six for $100 and can be purchased online or in person at the show. Prizes range in value from $500 to $2,800. The online auction will be available the week of ACE, with a wide variety of art pieces donated exclusively from ACE craftspeople.

(For more information, visit: https://americancraftexpo.org/)