Broomcraft began in 1920 and was initially conceived as a way to provide work opportunities for students unable to engage in agricultural activities during the colder winter months. Operating more like a factory than a studio prior to World War II, the broom shop employed more than 200 workers and produced more than 150,000 brooms per year, focusing on simple utilitarian designs that drew heavily from the Shaker tradition.

Today, 15 Broomcraft students still build wonderfully

utilitarian brooms but also seek to broaden the conceptual underpinnings of the craft and to contribute to the development of the medium as artistic expression. Through the humble broom, students explore relationships to the Great Commitments while gaining mastery of their craft. Director of Broomcraft Amanda Lee Lazorchack and Director of Fellowships Hunter Elliott create alongside students, teaching them how to make the considered decisions that transform a Berea College broom from simple tool to treasured heirloom.