Hands ON History Symposium 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 
Cindy Lou Farley
Event Marketing Coordinator
info@artfulhands.org
678-699-3585
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Hands ON History Symposium 2026 Brings Preservation and Decorative Arts to Athens 
ATHENS, GA — Hands ON History Symposium 2026 will take place November 6–7, 2026, bringing together those who share a passion for preserving historic places, understanding the past, and celebrating traditional craftsmanship. 

Sponsored by Artful Hands and the Material Culture & Arts Foundation (MCAF), the twoday symposium is presented in the spirit of the Henry D. Green Symposium. Through engaging presentations and shared experiences, Hands ON History will explore the work that goes into preserving historic places and the stories they hold. 

The symposium focuses on preservation in action. Rather than looking only at a finished restoration, the program considers the people behind the work, the decisions they make, and the skills required to give historic places new life. It will also explore decorative arts and material culture as a way of better understanding the people who made, used, and lived with the objects of the past. 

The symposium begins Friday, November 6, with special programming and Keynote at the historic Athens Cotton Press, followed by dinner at Taylor-Grady House. Guests will tour the house and property before dinner which will be prepared using traditional methods over the fire in the newly restored 1844 kitchen. The evening will offer a unique opportunity to experience history through the setting, the food, and the methods used to prepare it. On Saturday, November 7, the symposium continues at the Athens Cotton Press with a full day of presentations. Over six sessions, speakers will share stories of restoration and adaptive reuse while examining what can be learned from historic buildings and the objects associated with them. 

One session will look at the transformation of historic Athens properties into The Bell Hotel and The Athenian. The owners will discuss their experiences bringing new life to these properties in a conversation moderated by Tommy Valentine, Executive Director of Historic Athens. Other presentations will explore preservation projects beyond Athens and demonstrate how research and material objects can reveal a deeper understanding of the people who came before us. The symposium will conclude Saturday evening with A Southern Supper at The Donald-Epting House at The Hill, held in memory of Henry and Fran Green. Guests will enjoy an evening of Southern hospitality, dinner, fellowship, and a tour of the historic home while celebrating the Greens’ legacy and a weekend devoted to the people and places that keep history alive. Throughout the symposium, attendees will also have the opportunity to experience Making Place: A Gathering for Craft, Design & Community at the Athens Cotton Press November 2 - 12. The exhibition will feature wood-fired pottery from private collections alongside hand-forged ironwork, in addition to special programming featuring a Gallery + Trade Room Opening, 
Kids and Adult “Face Jug” Mug Workshops, Pat Shields’ Gallery Talk + A Special Viewing of David Drake Pottery, and a Closing Celebration with Live Music. Together, the exhibition and symposium create a connection between the traditions of the past and those who continue to practice and preserve them today. 

Hands ON History is intended for anyone who appreciates historic places and believes the stories 
they hold are worth preserving. 

EVENT INFORMATION: Hands ON History Symposium 2026, November 6–7, 2026 in Athens, Georgia. Saturday symposium sessions will be held at the Athens Cotton Press, with Friday dinner at the Taylor Grady House, and Saturday dinner at The Hill. Registration and additional program information are available at artfulhands.org