American Woodturner is finalist for 2015 niche publishing award

ST. PAUL, Minn. - March 17, 2015 - PRLog -- The American Association of Woodturners (AAW), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing the art and craft of woodturning worldwide, is pleased to announce that its flagship publication, American Woodturner, is a finalist for a 2015 Nichee Award for Best Consumer Niche Magazine.

American Woodturner (AW) endeavors to provide inspiration, education, information, and organization to members of the woodturning community and those who aspire to turn wood. The publication serves amateur and professional woodturners, broadly ranging in age, skill level, and interests, and seeks to attract more youth and women members. Its content encompasses all woodturning-related information, and includes instructional material, feature stories, process articles, artist retrospectives, and profiles of innovative turners. Primarily offered as an AAW member benefit (as opposed to a subscribership), AW is uniquely positioned to encourage active engagement within the global woodturning community. The journal embraces handcraft and expressive art in an age favoring automation, and keeps woodturning alive and positions it as a respected art form. American Woodturner is currently delivered to more than 15,000 AAW members worldwide, and is available for purchase in select bookstores, woodworking, and arts/craft stores nationally. A full digital version is under development and is anticipated in 2015.

"It is a great honor to be distinguished among our peers in the niche publishing world,” explained Joshua Friend, editor of American Woodturner. “Being a finalist for this award points to the wealth of expertise and enthusiasm within the AAW from both staff and membership."

“Without the essential leadership of Josh Friend and Betty Scarpino, former editor, and our team of editorial advisors, this recognition would not be possible,” reported Phil McDonald, executive director for the AAW. “Their foresight and efforts have helped American Woodturner evolve, grow, and continue to appeal to the diverse woodturning audiences that depend on us. And, it’s the graphic expertise of Albarella Design that brought their vision to life.”

2015 winners will be announced at the Nichee Award Party at the Niche Media Conference, a conference for niche magazine publishers, in Denver on April 1, 2015.

Niche Media’s “Nichee Awards” are presented annually to small and medium-sized magazines across the country for the creative and innovative ways they serve readers.

About the AAW
The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, dedicated to advancing the art and craft of woodturning worldwide by providing opportunities for education, information, inspiration, and community. Established in 1986, AAW currently has more than 15,000 members and a network of over 350 local chapters globally. The AAW possesses the single largest collection of woodturning information anywhere and its journal, American Woodturner, is the foremost publication on the art and craft of woodturning in the world. To learn more, visit http://www.woodturner.org.

About Woodturning
Woodturning is a unique form of woodworking that dates back to ancient Egypt. Historically, the woodturning process has involved a lathe (a device that holds and spins wood securely), which is used to shape objects like chair legs, candlesticks, and bowls. Today, lathe-turned work is also understood as an art form and vehicle for individual enrichment, creativity, and self-expression. Ornamental and sculptural lathe-turned work is a highly-respected art form found in galleries and museums around the world. Pieces may be functional, ornamental, or even sculptural. With a modest learning curve, woodturning engages people from age 8 to 108, and the skills acquired last a lifetime.