Arrowmont Internships
The Internship Program at Arrowmont is a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning about nonprofit administration or seeking practical experience in an arts organization. Interns live and work on campus for 2-3 months, becoming a pivotal part of the Arrowmont Community during our busy workshop sessions. Learn more about internships.
2025 Fall Studio Intern: Annalee Hanson
We are always happy to welcome a new Studio Intern to Arrowmont! This internship entails working closely with full-time studio technicians to help maintain the studio spaces and support instructors and students during workshop sessions. The 2025 Fall Studio Intern, Annalee Henson, joined us from Lyman, Mississippi. To learn more about Annalee and what brought them to the arts and Arrowmont this fall, continue reading below!
Tell us a little bit about yourself! Where are you from, and how did you get into the arts?
I’m Annalee Hanson, a textile artist and weaver from Lyman, Mississippi. I was first introduced to craft through my family. The women on my mother’s side were quilters, and my grandfather was a steel welder by trade. I grew up surrounded by my great-grandmother May J. Smith’s quilts and with adults who nurtured a “making” mentality, teaching me the value of creating with intention. Growing up on a farm, I was deeply connected to the rhythms of the local landscape — the cycles of planting and harvest, caring for animals, and learning from the land — which instilled in me a respect for materials and process. Over time, as I developed my own artistic voice, fiber remained at the forefront of my practice, connecting my hands, my roots, and my conceptual ideas.
Tell us more about your artwork and studio practice. What are the mediums you primarily work in and themes that your work explores?
As an artist, I am drawn to both technology and history. I work primarily as a weaver, specializing in digital Jacquard weaving on the TC2 loom. This technology allows me to reimagine traditional weaving structures and patterns while translating photographic imagery into woven form. My practice centers on the concept of memory – how we recall, preserve, and materialize our personal and collective histories. I am fascinated by the tactile ways we archive our lives, whether that be through photographs, letters, scrapbooks, or weaving patterns passed down through generations. My work is not only an ongoing collaboration with the past, but moves between tradition and the contemporary, combining hand-spun wool, naturally dyed fibers, and digital computer software.
What interested you most in the Arrowmont Fall Studio Internship?
What interested me most about the Arrowmont Fall Studio Internship was the opportunity to expand my skills as a technician while exploring new materials and processes. I was drawn to the hands-on environment of the studios and the chance to support instructors, maintain equipment, and gain a deeper understanding of how a craft school operates. Visiting the Smoky Mountains as a child and learning about Appalachian craft shaped my early appreciation for making by hand. Returning to that landscape through this internship felt like a natural next step and gave me the opportunity to give back to the community and craft traditions that first inspired me.
What have your responsibilities been as the Fall Studio Intern? What do your days look like?
As the Fall Studio Intern, my responsibilities centered on supporting the daily operations of Arrowmont’s nine studios. I assisted the technicians in preparing studios for classes, maintaining tools and equipment, and supporting instructors and students. Each day followed a flow of checking in with instructors, troubleshooting studio needs, and completing tasks based on the week’s schedule. At the start of each session, I welcomed instructors and assistants into their studios, and on Fridays, I helped with studio changeover to prepare for incoming classes. I also assisted with Slide Nights by organizing and preparing instructor presentations. Each day was an opportunity to expand my knowledge, with tasks such as pinning elements on a kiln or replacing brakes on a loom.
Tell us one magical story from your time here at Arrowmont.
One of the magical experiences I had at Arrowmont was attending Frances Fox’s History of Arrowmont talk and getting to know her and the members of the local Spinnery. Every Thursday, I attended the Spinnery’s Open Studio, where I had the amazing opportunity to spin merino wool yarn alongside Frances and other incredibly talented fiber artists. The way they welcomed me into their studio, generously sharing their fiber art knowledge, reminded me that craft is built not just through skill, but is sustained through the passing of knowledge from one maker to another.
You were able to take a national workshop as part of your internship. How did that experience impact you?
I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to take a traditional Zapotec tapestry weaving workshop with Demetrio Bautista Lazo as part of my internship. Learning directly from a master weaver provided insight into traditional techniques, cultural storytelling through textiles, and approaches to design and structure that reshaped how I approach my practice. It was especially inspiring to see how imagery can be translated not just through technology, but through hand-controlled weaving techniques.
What have been the most valuable learning opportunities you’ve had during your internship?
The most valuable learning opportunities have come from working alongside the studio technicians and instructors. From maintaining tools and equipment to hearing about their own practices, I am so thankful for every piece of creative insight, career advice, and technical knowledge that has been passed down to me. Before this internship, my experience was mostly fiber-based, and now I have a solid technical foundation across a variety of media, including clay, wood, and metals. Combined with my passion for arts advocacy and community education, this growth has strengthened my ability to support others in creative spaces, while also expanding and enriching my own artistic practice.
What advice would you give to a future intern?
Be curious and present, and stay open to learning from everyone around you. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Not just about how things are done, but why. Take the time to connect with the people who make Arrowmont what it is — the technicians, instructors, staff, and fellow artists — because those connections will leave a lasting impact on your practice and perspective. The more you stay open and engaged, the more the experience will give back to you.
How has your experience at Arrowmont as the 2025 Fall Studio Intern impacted you or potentially your career or life plans?
My experience at Arrowmont has been profoundly impactful, both personally and professionally. This internship reinforced my commitment to arts advocacy and community education, shaping how I envision my career as both a maker and teacher. Exposure to new techniques, various media, and many teaching styles broadened my artistic practice and encouraged me to experiment and push the boundaries of my work. Most importantly, the experience reaffirmed my desire to continue working within craft communities and spaces where making, learning, and shared knowledge intersect.
Are you interested in becoming a Studio Intern? Are you wanting to expand your knowledge in nonprofit administration and the arts?
Contact Kelly Hider at [email protected] or call 865-436-5860 extension 31 for more details on next year’s internships!
