2025 Conference
December 1-3, 2025
Cleveland, Ohio

December 1

• 10:00 AM - 5:15 PM: This pre-day of the conference features an easy craft day making nativities from books or pop-up cards. You don't need to be an artist to participate.

• 1:00 - 5:00 PM: Registration

• 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Members Mart

• 6:30 PM: Opening reception. Hors d'oeurves will be served & a cash bar will be available.
   

December 2

• Annual Friends of the Creche meeting

• Speakers:

  • KATHLEEN PHILABAUM , Director, St Paul's Lutheran HeART Gallery - Delve into the daily lives of Bethlehem's citizens to understand what Biblical and archeological research tell us about the family social structure, geography, and environment of the nativity story.  Using 7.5" Fontanini figures, Kate Philabaum introduces us to Micah and Jareth, shepherd boys; Thaddeus and Elizabeth, innkeepers; Ruben and Peter, field hands; and others who work as weavers, bakers, potters in the village.   

  • CHRISTOPHER AXELROD - A popular and highly informative lecture by a seasoned industry market expert to learn the reality of what is driving today’s national art market trends and values, as well as forecasting their future worth. Christopher will translate this information for our nativity treasures to help us know their value. Creative methods of collection disbursement will be addressed.

  • COLLEEN SNYDER, Cleveland Museum of Art - "Presepio Production:  Uncovering the Materials and Manufacture of a Neapolitan 18th Century Creche". The city of Naples, Italy has a long tradition of creating elaborate doll-like figurines for Nativity scenes. This practice, which began in the early 1700s, continues today, and the most elaborate scenes contain hundreds of figurines, animals and even accessories like musical instruments and food.  Recent research and analysis of the materials and techniques have provided a window into how Cleveland's presepio set was constructed.

  • KATHLEEN CONRAD, Nativity of the Lord Jesus Catholic Church - Tour coordinator for a permanent museum showcasing over 400 nativities, Kathleen will share how they promote the museum through various tours and events. You will see pictures of the church, which reflects the birthplace of Jesus, the Bethlehem Cave, a replica of Jesus’ birthplace as it now appears in Bethlehem, and input from Fr. David Halaiko, founder of the museum, who will present some of the unique nativities in the museum.

  • THE REVEREND FATHER JOHANN ROTEN - Learn about unique figures that have been represented in nativity scenes. How does their presence enhance the Incarnation? Father Johann Roten, founding FOTC member and professor from the University of Dayton, is a creche scholar and expert. He has spoken around the world, sharing the unique beauty of many cultural expressions of Jesus.

• Member's Museum of Miniatures

• Manger Mart with vendors

• Fireside Chat with the Friends of the Creche Board of Directories
   

December 3

• Spend the day touring by bus some of the finest nativity exhibits in the Cleveland area.  Buses will rotate through four sites:  Kirtland Nativity Exhibit and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Kirtland Temple Tour, Church of the Nativity, Sanctuary on Green, and Suzanne Wood's private nativity collection.  Lunch will be provided.

• Silent auction of nativities donated by members attending the conference

• Banquet, entertainment and awards