American Woodturner wins 2015 niche publishing award

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - April 7, 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, was presented with the 2015 Nichee Award for Best Niche Consumer Association Magazine at the Niche Media Conference on April 2. 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.

American Woodturner (AW) journal offers 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. 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.

"I am happy to have received this award on behalf of the AAW. There are many people who make the journal the high-quality publication it is, but the leadership of Betty Scarpino, my predecessor, was instrumental. She deserves much of the credit for this award,” explained Joshua Friend, editor of American Woodturner. “American Woodturner is a significant benefit of AAW membership, but it is just one of many. Looking ahead, our job is to ensure the journal works in conjunction with AAW's portfolio of woodturning resources to meet the needs of a varied, dynamic association.”

“It feels great to have American Woodturner acknowledged with this award,” stated Phil McDonald, executive director for the AAW.  “The remarkable contributions of Josh Friend, Betty Scarpino, our team of editorial advisors, and Albarella Design, have made this recognition achievable and enabled us to consistently appeal to our growing woodturning audiences.”
 
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 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.