Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg is a national center for art education. It’s for anyone who wants to take advantage of its tools and step up their art education. In all, Arrowmont offers one- and two-week courses for the beginner to advanced artist. All workshops are taught by national and international studio artists and university faculty – each with years of experience to lean on.
Arrowmont is located on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg, TN. For residents of the Gatlinburg community, Arrowmont offers a series of weekly classes. These classes and workshops include instructional courses in books, ceramics, drawing, fiber, metals/jewelry, mixed media, painting, paper, photography, warm glass, wood-turning, and woodworking.
Come by and visit Arrowmont’s campus whenever you would like, they’re open year round. Peruse artwork by artists the world over in Arrowmont’s five galleries. These galleries are continuously changing exhibits and evening presentations are the norm most weeks. In terms of research and study, the Marian Heard Library and Resource Center includes print and electronic materials and work is always on display from Arrowmont’s permanent collection. Art supplies and tools for students can be purchased on campus at the Artist Outfitters Store as well.
Arrowmont’s Artists-in-Residence Program provides for five early-career artists during a year-long residency. Continued programs of study and various community talks bring artists, art educators, and others to Arrowmont’s studios where they discuss and critique issues and trends in the art field.
Area schools have benefited greatly from Arrowmont over the years. A program called ArtReach, a partnership with Sevier County Schools, gives 1,000 students from grades 4-12, an in-depth, full day art workshop at Arrowmont each year.
This year, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts marked its 100th birthday as an art education center. While Arrowmont’s formative years were based on a general education curriculum in a settlement school setting, mountain handicrafts soon found their way to the school’s halls. This came about in order to preserve the skills and livelihood for residents who lived in a more agricultural environment at the time. Arrowmont’s signature summer workshop program was launched in 1945 and the school welcomed people from all over the country who were interested in furthering their art education against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. Today, more than 130 classes in contemporary art and crafts are offered throughout the center’s seasonal sessions.
Arrowmont operates Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm, and on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Hours expand to seven days a week during the spring, summer and fall workshops programs. During winter classes, the galleries, resource center and the book/supply store are also open extended hours.
Arrowmont Map
