Arkansas Knifemakers Association, Art of Steel Show - Huh? What's Going On?

The Amazing Virginian

The Amazing Virginian

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If this has been discussed here, please accept my apologies. I searched and could not find it, and I did not get the memo.

So I go to the Arkansas Knifemakers Association website to check the dates for the AKA Show in Little Rock next month . . . and it says they have disbanded! :(

There is a link to a non-working website ("Website will be available soon...") for something called "Art of Steel" show.

What happened? And what is going on? When and what is this "Art of Steel" show? If they don't even have a website yet, I can't imagine they are going to be having a show next month like the (apparently, old) AKA Show. So when is it (or is that TBD)?

Any information would be appreciated. TIA!
 
The AKA show in Little Rock is now the Art of Steel show...same show, same venue as last year, different show management.

The board of the AKA decided to disband last yr, therefore no longer running the show in Little Rock.

The show will continue to be top quality, with a few changes, even improvements. There will be a cutting competition this year as well.

I'll post specifics later unless someone can beat me to the punch.

Tad
 
Kerry Brooks of River's Edge Media has taken over the show. There was an announcement at last years banquet and he spoke to the audience about continuing to promote a high quality event. The website was up for months; I have no idea why it is down now. I have had several correspondences with Kerry and he has been very responsive. I expect a great show.

Bob
 
Thanks for the info.

Thinking of coming in for it. A couple of questions. Do they still have the Friday night awards banquet, and if so can collectors still attend? How does this venue compare to the old venue they had for a few years at the Robinson Center Exhibit Hall? TIA!
 
There will be no banquet as such this year but the knife judging will take place on Friday. The makers must submit their knives between 6-6:15. Once the judging is over the room will be open to all table holders and their VIP guests. This will take place in the Fulton Room of the Statehouse Convention Center. Everyone is on their own for supper Fri. night.

The venue is larger than the Robinson center and I think that most enjoyed the extra room there last year.

Gary
 
I enjoyed the new venue. I am looking forward to the show. I believe that it should be a great show, as it has been in the past.

Chris
 
I am certainly looking forward to the show, but I will admit, as a paid table holder it's a bit unsettling that the Show's web site be non-functional 6 weeks before the show.
 
I'll be there.

They did have a working web page that we linked on our site. Must be working on it? Not good this close to the show!

Being a media company running it now you'd sure think there would be a 'media' blitz about this show?
 
Ill be there I am not going to have as many knives as I would like to. As it turns out moving my shop my school and my house is really cutting into my knife making time. this is one of my favorite shows it is still small enough to have that family feeling and the focus is on the hand made and hand forged knife. and if you read the list of makers attending this it reads like a list of who is who in the world of custom knives the tables on friday are the highlight of the show to see all those knives together is a real treat.
 
FYI, the website is up now. Good info, too! Only thing that seems to be "missing" is hotel info - especially if they have any kid of hotel deal with anyone. Maybe was just a technical problem and bad timing on my part. Weird message though ("Website will be available soon..."). Might want to rethink that one.
 
Ought to be an awsome show! There was some talk at first of changing the awards judging to a panel of judges...thankfully that isn't going to happen. In the last mailing I got it said ABS Journeymen, Mastersmiths, and voting members of the Knifemaker's Guild can have a ballot. While it excludes some non-ranking makers, I think it still maintains the integrity of the awards. There is also a $1000 prize for Best in Show...as usual there ought to be brutally stiff competition for the awards. Hope to see y'all there!
 
Why did the AKA go belly up? With 20 years under their belt, a successful show, and a host of knife makers in the region, it seems they should still be a viable organization.
 
brownshoe said:
Why did the AKA go belly up? With 20 years under their belt, a successful show, and a host of knife makers in the region, it seems they should still be a viable organization.
Click to expand...

The guy running the AKA got tired and wanted to retire. Guess no one was in line to take over.
 
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