About Arrowmont
For over a century, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts has provided educational arts programming in the heart of Appalachia. Hosting over 200 creative experiences each year, Arrowmont always has something new to explore.
A Unique Environment for Arts & Crafts
Tucked away on a wooded hillside in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts offers a unique environment, a creative oasis amidst the bustle of a popular tourist destination.
Founded in 1912
Originally a settlement school, Arrowmont stands as a testament to the strength and creativity of so many. The original residents of this small mountain town, the Pi Phi women who forged new roads into (and out of) the hamlet, and the artisans, students and instructors who’ve added life and depth to our mission. The spirit of this heritage permeates the grounds and even the mountain air.
The Arrowmont experience is not something easily put into words because it is different each day and for each individual. The essence of the experience is grounded in exploration and discovery.
Creating Immersive Art Experiences
Arrowmont workshops have built a reputation for being a safe place to explore one’s passions, develop new skills and try unexpected things. Valued by both our instructors and students, this trifecta of experiences has played out in a myriad of ways – from artists itching to expand their portfolio by trying a new medium to students picking up a paint brush for the very first time. This rich history has also led to creative collaborations with lasting impacts on the greater arts & crafts community in North America.
In addition to our workshops, Arrowmont has five galleries that help us exhibit the many ways to express oneself through arts and crafts. Our galleries introduce visitors to new artists, new techniques, or long-held traditions in the craft world. Arrowmont sees creating appreciation for arts and crafts as a crucial piece of our mission to enrich lives through arts and crafts.
As technology changes every aspect of our lives, many regional traditions and experiences are being lost to time. This change has been particularly acute for traditional arts & crafts in Appalachia. Skills once passed down out of necessity and a desire to create beauty out of utility (such as handicrafts like basketry, woodworking and weaving) are quickly disappearing as older generations pass on. Arrowmont seeks to reverse that trend through two distinct programs, ArtReach and Legacy.
Arrowmont believes its programming should be accessible for ALL who want to enrich their lives through arts & crafts. This passion for helping early-career artists takes many forms, such as scholarship offerings for people of all ages and skills levels, to Internships and Workstudy opportunities, to the Artists-in-Residence and Pentaculum programs. Arrowmont wants every visiting artist to feel supported, inspired, and creatively challenged.
Arrowmont is about more than the classes and programs it offers. It is about the students whose lives are impacted by the connections and experiences they make here. All Arrowmont’s programming is made possible by generous contributions.
Please consider donating to Arrowmont today.
