Mentoring & Growth

Craft knowledge moves between people. Apprentices learn from Makers. Makers are guided by Artisans. Artisans work with Mentors who hold the larger cultural conversation. If you're ready to formalize a mentorship relationship, seek guidance, or begin teaching others, we create structures for this work. Mentoring isn't extra—it's how lineages survive.

[Apply for Mentorship]

Volunteer

Folk Lounge gathers every four Saturdays for Embroidery Social—two hours on Saturday mornings (10am–12pm) at locations throughout Los Angeles. We're building a volunteer community to steward these circles: welcoming people, managing materials, and maintaining the quality of our space.

Two Dedicated Positions (Every 6 Months)

We seek two committed volunteers for a six-month cycle. Training takes time, so continuity matters—it's how we maintain the quality of our events. In return, you'll join our Material Salon guest lectures at no cost during your service.

General Volunteer Pool

We also welcome flexible volunteers for community events, pop-ups, and special projects.

Requirements

Basic embroidery and sewing comprehension. You need enough knowledge to guide others and answer questions about materials and technique. Comfort moving from parking to our gathering spaces, sometimes with elevation changes, and accessing on-site bathrooms. If you need accommodations, let us know.

[Apply to Volunteer]

Talks & Keynotes

Folk Lounge creates forums for artisans and scholars to speak on cultural preservation, tradition, and the future of embodied practice. Conference talks, private events, workshops—we're open to collaborative storytelling where your expertise shapes the conversation.

[Share Your Story]

Publishing

Your voice, your legacy. Publishing means developing your brand, style, and cultural authority—through books, materials, documented techniques, and recognition as a keeper of lineage. Whether you're documenting stitch vocabularies, publishing a monograph, releasing materials, or building your reputation as a recognized practitioner, we support the infrastructure.

[Develop Your Publishing Path]

Teaching

Your craft deserves a platform. Folk Lounge creates space for your methodology and voice—whether that's Armenian tatreez, Ukrainian rushnyky, Japanese shibori, or any embroidery tradition. You set the pacing, choose your students, and shape how your work is presented. We handle logistics. You focus on transmission.

[Become an Instructor]

Commercial

Scale without compromise. If you're developing products, exploring manufacturing, or building a sustainable commercial practice around your craft, we connect you with collaborators and resources that understand your work and maintain your artistic integrity.

[Explore Commercial Partnerships]

Commissions

Folk Lounge connects master artisans with cultural institutions, collectors, and organizations seeking authentic, lineage-grounded work. This is partnership with people who understand the depth of your craft and value your process, materials, and vision.

[Propose a Commission]