Appalachian Arts Craft Center, located off Exit 122 on I75 between Clinton and Norris, began as the Community Craft Center in 1970 in the back room of a 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 enrich the souls and pocketbooks of low-income people in Anderson County. We received early assistance from Good Neighbors of Norris, Tennessee Arts Commission and John Rice Irwin of the Museum of Appalachia. After obtaining our Non-profit 501(c)3 status, we began offering local art classes in weaving, quilting, and pottery. We also opened an arts and crafts gift shop to provide an outlet for local artists to sell locally made handmade gifts. Celebrating more than 50 years of service and over 160 members, the Appalachian Arts Craft Center continues to fulfill its mission to support arts and crafts in Appalachia through education, sales, and community involvement. We connect artists, art seekers and art supporters with one-of-a-kind handmade Tennessee arts and crafts (in person and online), offer local art classes for community members of all ages to learn new skills creating their own art and play an active role in the arts supporting our local communities. In addition to supporting local artists and art seekers with the arts and crafts gift shop, the Appalachian Arts Craft Center has grown to become a highly recognized educational facility. Over the years, the Appalachian Arts Craft Center has expanded the building to house a learning classroom, pottery studio, and weaving studio. Our experienced and expert art instructors include many working art professionals with bachelor’s degrees in the creative and Fine Arts fields covering a variety of art skills ranging from handwoven textiles, nature photography, landscaping, pottery, painting, weaving and more. Above all, our art educators have an unwavering passion for the arts!