Kid’s Craft Camp
Kid’s Craft Camp: Ages 7 – 12. Monday – Friday, June 17 – 21 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Appalachian Arts Craft Center has been teaching young people about crafts for more than 30 years. This camp teaches children about traditional Appalachian crafts as well as contemporary crafts. This year the camp will have projects like weaving, sewin ...Tuesday Weavers
Read about the exciting adventures of the Loomy Tunes!
Call for New Sellers!
We are always interested in new artists and sellers. Here is the schedule for 2013 jury sessions. See the membership page for additional details and entry forms. All items due by NOON on the Friday before the jury date. Monday, 2/4 Monday, 5/6 Monday, 8/5 Monday 11/4
Our Gallery
Craft Center Gallery hours are: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon-Sat 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays In January and February, we are closed on Sunday and Monday Our gallery is filled with one-of-a-kind Appalachian arts and crafts made by our membership. The gallery is open to the public, and there is always something new to discover. Our gallery is a g ...
Appalachian Arts began as the Community Craft Center in 1970 in the back room of an old grocery store. We were founded by Grace Foster and Sara Shepard Starr, who had been hired by the federally funded Anderson County Community Action Commission to “to enrich the souls and pocketbooks of low-income people in Anderson County” as stated in our original charter. In addition to the support received from this branch of Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, we received early assistance from Good Neighbors of Norris, The Tennessee Arts Commission and John Rice Irwin of the Museum of Appalachia. Non-profit 501(c)3 status was obtained, weaving, quilting, and pottery classes were begun, and a shop was opened. Looms, potters’ wheels, a kiln, quilting frames, and other equipment were obtained. A jury process was developed to ensure high standards of quality.Watch this great introductory video!
Today, local people and visitors still gather to share creative ideas and talents, keeping the traditional crafts alive as well as pursuing more contemporary work. The Center has grown to become a highly recognized educational facility and, in 1987, built a new building across the street from the original country store. We have a shop upstairs and studio space downstairs, and we’ve changed our name. We are now called Appalachian Arts Craft Center, and the language of our mission statement has also changed with the times. We now “promote the Appalachian Artist through education and sales.”. Our language may have changed, but the vision of our founders has remained intact.
We are available to come to your organizational meeting or event to talk about the Craft Center. Call 865-494-9854 or email appalachianartscenter@gmail.com.
