Gatlinburg’s Arrowmont truly is a school of art education set against one of most ideal artistic backdrops – the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Arrowmont’s school of arts and crafts is a tool for anyone to make use of who wants to expand their art education. One- and two-week courses highlight the curriculum and artists the world over make up the school’s revolving faculty.
Located on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg, TN, Arrowmont offers a series of weekly classes. They include instructional courses in books, ceramics, drawing, fiber, metals/jewelry, mixed media, painting, paper, photography, warm glass, wood-turning, and woodworking.
Arrowmont is open year round. Browse the artwork of worldly artists in the school’s five galleries. The Marian Heard Library and Resource Center includes print and electronic materials and work is always on display from Arrowmont’s permanent collection there for those looking for more research opportunities. The Artist Outfitters Store provides all the art supplies and tools that a student might need.
Over the years a number of area schools in the Smoky Mountain region have benefited greatly from a sharing learning initiative offered through Arrowmont. ArtReach, a program in partnership with Sevier County Schools, gives 1,000 students from grades 4-12, the opportunity for a full day of in-depth, art classes at Arrowmont each year.
Arrowmont recently marked its 100th birthday as a center for art education in the Smokies. At first, Arrowmont taught area children from a general education curriculum in a settlement school setting. Before long though mountain handicrafts found their into the school’s teachings. These teachings were infused into each child’s regular education in order to preserve the skills of the residents whose livelihood depended on more agriculturally-based teachings. 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.