Heritage crafts like weaving, pottery, and blacksmithing are rising in popularity nationwide. Check out these nine places to learn them in Nebraska.
Nebraska is home to many friendly little towns, and those towns are home to many friendly people who want to share their passions with others. This is particularly true when it comes to heritage crafts, and it’s all in the name, really.
Heritage crafts describe a wide variety of skills passed down from generation to generation, and they can vary by location. Heritage crafts in Nebraska may not be the same as heritage crafts in Germany, which may not be the same heritage crafts in the Philippines. Still, they all carry inherent skill and cultural tradition.
This all sounds dandy, but the unfortunate truth is that heritage skills are rarer now than ever. Modern consumerism allows us to buy mass-produced goods at the snap of a finger, and this has repressed tactile heritage crafts like basket weaving and bow making. People no longer need to learn how to make them to survive, and with mass-produced versions being cheaper, individual makers have no sales markets.
The good news? Heritage crafts are slowly coming back. Many people have realized how reliant our current society is on automation and mass production, and they’re hoping to change that. In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred this revolution. Just think about the great sourdough bread boom of 2020. It seemed like everyone and their mother learned how to foster sourdough starters and create their own bread, meaning they didn’t need to buy any (or at least less) from the grocery store.
There’s also an economic impact at play here. AI has loomed over society for several years now, with worries that it will take over the job market entirely if left unchecked. How can younger folks in particular set themselves up for success if the future is so uncertain? They can learn trades and skills that are essentially AI-proof. These skills include woodworking, blacksmithing, bookbinding, and ceramics, just to name a few.
Want to learn a new skill while making important connections in your community? Check out the following heritage crafts being taught right here in Nebraska.
1. Learn weaving and spinning at the Hand Weavers Guild of Lincoln
Where: 3843 S 48th Street, Suite 1, Lincoln, NE 68506
The Hand Weavers Guild of Lincoln brings its love for heritage crafts to the masses in many ways, including two classes: Beginning Handweaving and Beginning Spinning. The handweaving course occurs every January and October, while the spinning course is an annual springtime event. As their names suggest, these classes are truly for beginners, introducing attendees to basic weaving and spinning terminology before they ever touch equipment.
Registration isn’t open for either course at the time of writing. If you’re interested in January’s weaving class, you’ll want to keep checking back as it nears. While exact prices aren’t listed on the guild’s website, it does note that there’s a fee due upon registration as well as a fee to cover supplies on the day of the class.
2. Learn rug and tapestry weaving from a pro
If you want to learn how to weave rugs or tapestries for yourself and others, you might want to start with a class taught by an industry pro. Enter Mary Zicafoose, an Omaha native who has devoted her life to textile work. She weaves rugs and tapestries, and she’s all about color. This is perhaps why she’s also a master of ikat, a Southeast Asian technique in which materials are resist-dyed before being woven.
Luckily for you, Zicafoose is renowned in her field, and she teaches classes all over. At the time of writing, her website has workshops listed through May 2027. Some are at universities, and some are in collaboration with local guilds. In either case, you won’t want to miss a class with her.
3. Learn pottery at A Backwoods Farm
Where: 15006 42nd St Building #2, Plattsmouth, NE 68048
Never made pottery before? No problem! Beginners are welcome at A Backwoods Farm, an independent studio nestled outside of Omaha. The atmosphere at A Backwoods Farm is serene, which is only elevated by the barn-chic aesthetic that the property’s owners, Eric and Gina, have so beautifully fostered. They’ve been together since high school, and one look at their workshop shows that they love their work just as much as they love each other.
Gina and Eric host pottery workshops frequently, and they often add new dates to their website. Each evening comes with drinks and freshly wood-fired pizza, so you’re guaranteed a full night of fun—and an experience you won’t forget anytime soon. Plus, you’re learning a new skill, and there’s really no beating that.
4. Learn about pottery, clay, and more at the LUX Center for the Arts
Where: 2601 North 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68504
At any given time, Lincoln’s LUX Center for the Arts has upcoming workshops in a variety of artistic mediums. These are typically taught by artists in residence, so you’re learning from pros. Naturally, these classes include painting and drawing, but there are also more traditional heritage crafts in the mix. At the time of writing, the roster of upcoming classes includes pottery (wheel throwing) and making soup bowls and spoons out of clay. To check out the full roster, click here. (We recommend bookmarking it so you have easy access to check back for updates.)
5. Learn blacksmithing at The Blacksmith Shop
Where: 2921 N 84th St, Omaha, NE 68134
Cost: $350
The Blacksmith Shop in Omaha does exactly what it promises: It keeps blacksmithing alive by passing it down to new generations. To accomplish this, the shop holds a few tiers of classes. First, there’s the basic class, which eager blacksmiths-to-be are required to attend before they can take more advanced workshops. The basic class is a two-day affair that costs $350, and your fee includes materials and lunch.
Then, once you’ve mastered the basic class, you can sign up for workshops that will teach you how to make blades, axes, and more. Take these classes, and you’ll really feel like you stepped into an episode of “Game of Thrones”! If that sounds just peachy keen to you, check out The Blacksmith Shop’s website, which has workshops listed through the end of 2027.
6. Learn about bookbinding, glass blowing, and more at the Hot Shops Art Center
Where: 1301 Nicholas St, Omaha, NE 68102
Similar to Lincoln’s LUX Center for the Arts, Omaha’s Hot Shops Art Center offers workshops on a variety of heritage crafts, and they’re typically taught by talented artists in residence. At the time of writing, some upcoming classes focus on clay work, bookbinding, and pottery, as well as some traditional arts like drawing and painting. Classes vary in price, but they seem to fill up quickly, so you may want to register sooner rather than later to avoid missing your chance. For a full list of classes, click here.
7. Learn woodworking at Woodcraft
Where: 14605 Wright St, Omaha, NE 68144
If you’re an Omaha native and passionate about building or designing, you’ve likely encountered Woodcraft a few times in your life. But did you know this supply store also hosts woodworking classes? Woodcraft offers beginner and intermediate courses on many topics, including pen turning and bowl turning, as of now. Prices range from $100 to $120, respectively, and signing up online is easy. For a full list of classes, click here.
8. Learn bowmaking with Organic Archery
Led by Nebraska native Correy Hawk, Organic Archery is the result of a lifetime of love for nature. Hawk began appreciating the outdoors and wielding a bow and arrow as a child, and he’s run Organic Archery full-time since 2018, connecting others with his passion for nature.
His mission includes multi-day workshops where he teaches attendees how to build their own bows. He offers three main options: Bowmaking 101, Advanced Bowmaking, and Private Instruction. The latter two options are four days each, while Bowmaking 101 lasts for three days—and is likely where you should start. Bowmaking 101 takes you through the entire process, from selecting a tree and designing your bow to actually crafting it and then taking care of it pre- and post-shoot. For a full list of workshops, click here.
9. Learn how to make perfect sourdough bread with Cakes by Diane
Where: 913 S 184th St, Elkhorn, NE 68022
Cost: $125
Nestled in West Omaha is Cakes by Diane, an online-run bakery that specializes in wedding cakes, seasonal treats like pumpkin rolls and pies, and, yes, sourdough bread. To that end, in addition to selling sourdough, Cakes by Diane hosts a series of sourdough workshops to help you perfect your method. It costs $125 up front, but you might save more than that once you stop buying sourdough at the store.
At the time of writing, Cakes by Diane has workshop dates listed through June 2027. Each course is two-and-a-half hours long, and you get sent home with plenty of goodies, including sourdough starter, a baked loaf of sourdough, one dough ready to proof, and more. For a full list of dates, click here.
