The Mint Museum collects international contemporary decorative arts in the areas of glass, fiber art, metal, studio jewelry, design, studio furniture, wood art, and clay. The Craft + Design collection celebrates exceptional moments of artistic and design excellence. While works range in date from the mid-twentieth century to the present, the Museum’s collecting focus is on the twenty-first century. The Mint Museum Uptown, which opened in October 2010, offers an incredible opportunity to exhibit more of the Museum's permanent collection with expanded exhibition space. The Mint Museum continues to build a collection of masterworks, produce scholarly publications, and collaborate closely with contemporary artists, keeping the Museum at the forefront of the world of contemporary decorative arts.
The craft and design world has seen significant changes since the Mint Museum of Craft + Design opened its doors in 1999. In response to these changes, the museum strives to become a forum for dialogue about current issues of concern in the field, such as craft theory, aesthetics, and technology. Forging alliances within Charlotte, North Carolina, nationally, and internationally, the museum is finding new ways to integrate craft and design into the broader conversation about art and society.