Emphasis is on American subject matter, but the magazine occasionally covers other fields and international topics as they relate to craft. The magazine originated in 1941, when it was named Craft Horizons, a title that changed, in 1979, to American Craft. In continuous publication since the 1940s, the magazine has served as the document of record on the development of craft in the United States since the Second World War. As a benefit of membership in the Council, American Craft enjoys a broad readership, both within the United States and beyond. Many school and public libraries receive the magazine, bringing it to an ever wider audience, which is also served by national newsstand distribution.
Galleries are major advertisers in the magazine, creating a vivid picture of the craft marketplace.
Leading education centers also advertise in American Craft.