The NH Furniture Masters Response to the Coronavirus
Times are tough right now for everyone. As we are in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic, the best thing we can do is look out for ourselves, our families and our communities. Please follow the advice of professionals and keep yourselves educated and healthy.

Each individual that makes up the NH Furniture Masters organization is a small business owner. In times such as these, it is important to remember this and support however you can. Please take a look at our Online Photo Gallery and our Meet the Masters pages to learn more about each of our Masters. You can directly contact any of our Masters through our website.

Although this is our 25th Anniversary and we have many exciting things planned, the health and safety of all is our first and foremost priority. With this being said, some of our upcoming events may be postponed or cancelled. Please check our Facebook and website for any cancellation announcements.

We wish everyone well, and thank you for your continued support of our organization and our Masters. Please see the poem below for some encouraging words.
Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love--
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

--Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
From the ucsf website: meri.ucsf.edu/blog/pandemic
Update on the Furniture Masters &
American Furniture Masters Institute
2020 marks the 25th year of the NH Furniture Masters with good reason to celebrate. What started as a joint marketing endeavor by a small group of New Hampshire wood artists has grown into a larger vision with an array of educational programs aimed at preserving and perpetuating the centuries long tradition of fine furniture. The high standards of excellence in design, structure and workmanship that were set forth 25 years ago, continue to exist today. And, we continue to be open to all styles of furniture, from historical period pieces, to contemporary work, including work that is more expressive or sculptural in nature.
A group of our Furniture Masters at the 2019 Gala. Left to Right:
Richard Oedel, Ted Blachly, Lynn Szymanski, Jeffrey Cooper, Owain Harris, David Lamb.
While the Furniture Masters have continued to operate as a trade association, the American Furniture Masters Institute was organized as a 501 c (3) not for profit corporation over 20 years ago to oversee and administer all of the educational programs. 

As we get started with our 25th anniversary celebrations, we are excited to announce that the NH Furniture Masters as a group have officially moved in under the umbrella of the American Furniture Masters Institute and will now be known as the Furniture Masters Certification Program. This expanded program will consist of three certification groups including Emerging Makers, Furniture Masters and Fellows. Operationally, this makes sense for both organizations as it provides more efficiencies and continuity between the Furniture Masters and our programs.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Grants:
Elizabeth L. Johnson Fund – Fidelity Charitable
Fleisher Family Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Greenspan Foundation
Maine Community Foundation Belvedere Traditional Handcrafts
New Hampshire Women’s Foundation Pathways to Prosperity
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
Von Weber Trust