Handmade Arcade is Pittsburgh's largest indie craft fair, founded in 2004. It is a two-day annual event held in November that features over 86 regional and international vendors selling handmade goods. Since starting in 2004 with 32 vendors and 1,000 attendees, it has grown significantly each year, with the 2006 event hosting 118 vendors and 5,000 attendees. The event helps support Pittsburgh's growing indie craft community and local economy.

1. HANDMADE ARCADE
FACT SHEET
www.handmadearcade.com
Handmade Arcade (HA) is Pittsburgh’s 7. Jessica Manack
largest and first indie craft fair. Founded Online Ambassador
in 2004 to provide Pittsburgh’s growing jmanack@gmail.com
indie craft scene with a marketplace for
8. Julie Meredith
selling handmade wares and connecting
Graphic Designer
to the national craft movement, HA
julie.meredith@gmail.com
features the work of more than 86
regional, national and sometimes 9. Elizabeth Prince
international vendors. An annual event, Grant Coordinator/Event Runner
HA takes place during the second lizziebat@gmail.com
weekend of November. This year (2007)
HA is expanding to become a Since its inception in 2004, HA has
two-day event. tripled in size. Attendance figures
2004 – 2006:
Handmade Arcade will be held HA:04, November 13, 2004:
on November 10 and 11, 2007 at 32 vendors, 1,000 attendees
Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington
St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15208 HA:05, November 12, 2005:
(http://www.constructionjunction.org/). 80 vendors, 2,000 attendees
HA is a well-established event and is HA:06, November 11, 2006:
anticipated every year by the community 118 vendors, 5,000 attendees
as a jumpstart to holiday shopping.
Handmade Arcade has reach beyond
Handmade Arcade is organized by: the Pittsburgh area. Vendors and
1. Jill Chisnell attendees have come from: New
Project Manager/Administrator York; Toronto and Montreal; Illinois;
j27illy@yahoo.com Massachusetts; Vermont; Washington,
DC; West Virginia; New Hampshire;
2. Jennifer Baron Ohio; Maryland; Indiana; New Jersey;
PR/Marketing Coordinator Connecticut; and Tennessee.
pennsylvaniaturnpike@gmail.com
3. Debbie Bogdan Handmade Arcade has an extensive
Volunteer/Sponsorship Coordinator web presence, including a website,
flawed_flock@yahoo.com blog and MySpace page:
4. Amanda Budai www.handmadearcade.com. An Internet
Programming Coordinator search for Handmade Arcade will result
amandavargo@hotmail.com in many hits, including personal blogs,
as well as independently generated
5. Gloria Forouzan word-of-mouth and mainstream media
gtfourozan@gmail.com coverage. HA has been covered on the
6. Al Hoff following websites, among many others:
alhoff2000@verizon.net 1. craftster.org
2. getcrafty.com

2. 3. supernaturale.com/glitter/ 7. Pittsburgh City Paper, November 10,
2004, by Bill O'Driscoll,
4. thisishappening.com
http://www.handmadearcade.com/
5. board.nevertellmetheodds.org/ pull_weeklink.pdf
6. iheartpgh.com
7 adornmag.com Handmade Arcade attracts a diverse
8. venusmag.com audience. The event’s largest
demographic is 18 – 40, well-educated
9. bust.com and urban. However, HA is regularly
10. craftzine.com attended by people of all ages and
backgrounds.
Handmade Arcade has received
significance press coverage in Pittsburgh. Handmade Arcade has established
The following are examples of mainstream partnerships and working relationships
coverage that can be found in print with a number of local organizations and
and online. businesses including:
1. “The Art of Craft,” Pop City Media, 1. Construction Junction
February 14, 2007, by Jen Saffron, 2. Coca Cafe
http://www.popcitymedia.com/
features/48crafters.aspx 3. Franktuary
2. “Handmade Arcade: Crafts from 4. Coco’s Cupcake Cafe
the Underground,” Pittsburgh 5. The Sprout Fund
Post-Gazette, November 09, 2006,
6. ModernFormations
by Timothy McNulty,
http://www.postgazette.com/
pg/06313/736687-42.stm New partners Handmade Arcade is
engaging this year include:
3. “Let the Crafting Revolution
Continue,” Pittsburgh Tribune 1. Scion
Review, November 10, 2006, by 2. Starbucks
Brianna Horan, http://www.pittsburgh
live.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/ 3. Gypsy Café
fashion/s_479057.html 4. Artists Image Resource (A.I.R.)
4. Pittsburgh Magazine, 5. Pat Catan’s
November 2006
6. Pittsburgh City Paper
5. “Young Indie Crafters Sell Handmade
Crafts at Show,” Pittsburgh Tribune
Review, November 13, 2004, by Kelly B.
Gormly, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/
pittsburghtrib/s_272251.html
6. “A Bizzare Bazaar,” Pittsburgh
Tribune Review, November 15, 2004,
by Melissa Meinzer,
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/
x/pittsburghtrib/s_273060.html