Brief History of Academy:
The National Academy of Needlearts was founded for the purpose of providing educations opportunities in the field of needlearts, in 1985.
NAN's Goal:
It is the goal of NAN to: "uphold the highest standards in the needlearts by providing excellence in education to all those interested in furthering their embroidery skills as teachers, judges, artists, designers, authors, and technically proficient embroiderers".
National Academy of Needlearts' Affiliations:
NAN is a member of:
- The Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA)
- The American Needlepoint Guild (ANG)
- Embroidery Teachers' Association (NETA)
- The National Needlework Assocation
- Embroiders'Association of Canada (EAC)
- Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild (BDEIG)
Association Website:
The National Academy of Needearts has a large website with the following features:
- Information on upcoming annual teaching events
- Details on annual membership showcase
- Opportunities for association certification
- Membership description and requirements
- Newsletter subscription
- Gallery and details on the association's permanent needlework archives located at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Association Awards
- and FREE patterns
Needlework Gallery:
NAN has an embroidery collection housed at the Gallery of Art and Design in Raleigh, North Carolina at North Carolina State University. Several of these pieces can be viewed online at the NAN homepage.
NANthology:
NANthology is a quarterly newsletter published by the National Academy of Needlearts.
Several sample articles can be read online and include topics such as: choosing the right scissors and preserving textiles. Definitely a part of the site to look over!
NAN Membership:
The National Academy of Needlearts offers several levels of membership. Ranging from $25.00 to $500.00, these numerous membership levels should make it easy to find one that is right for you.


