Handmade Arcade
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| Handmade Arcade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date(s) | November |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
| Inaugurated | 2004[1] |
Handmade Arcade is an annual independent craft fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fair focuses on sustainable, upcycled, recycled, and eco-friendly materials and techniques.[2] Vendors come from multiple states; in 2012, participants came from 15 different states.[2] For example, some pieces include purses made from recycled books, camera straps constructed from vintage fabrics, jewelry made from found objects, pillows constructed from vintage T-shirts, and organic bath and body products.[2] Attendance has reached 10,000.[2] In 2007 and 2009, it won the People’s Choice Award for Best Arts Event from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.[3]
The first Handmade Arcade was held in 2004 at Construction Junction in Point Breeze.[1] The founder was Gloria Forouzan of Lawrenceville.[4] The Sprout Fund provided critical funding for that first event.[5] That year, attendance was 1,000, with 60 vendors.[4] In 2005, attendance and the number of vendors had doubled.[6] The 2006 version saw 5,000 attendees.[7]
In 2008, it had moved into the Hunt Armory.[8] By 2011, attendance had grown to 7,000, allowing for a move to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center[9]
