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Arrowmont School
of Arts & Crafts
556 Parkway
PO Box 567
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Ph. 865-436-5860
info@arrowmont.org
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November 1, 2008
Property Sale Update
Arrowmont received notice late Thursday evening from the Grand Council of Pi Beta Phi that it has withdrawn from the recent negotiations to sell the property it owns in Gatlinburg, which includes the 14 acres currently leased to Arrowmont. Arrowmont’s lease runs through August 31, 2011.
Director David Willard comments, “Even though this particular venture has not materialized, we must assume the property is still for sale. Arrowmont and its Board of Governors along with a selection of professionals are actively engaged in pursuing Arrowmont’s options for the School’s future.”
Pi Beta Phi Press Release
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Regarding the Potential Sale of Property Currently Being Leased to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts by Pi Beta Phi Fraternity
Click here to download a PDF version. (revised 11-3-08)
November 3, 2008
What is the latest news regarding the potential sale of the Arrowmont property?
Arrowmont received notice the evening of October 30th from the Grand Council of Pi Beta Phi that it has withdrawn from the recent negotiations to sell the property it owns in Gatlinburg, which includes the 14 acres currently leased to Arrowmont. Director David Willard comments, “Even though this particular venture has not materialized, we must assume the property is still for sale. Arrowmont and its Board of Governors along with a selection of professionals are actively engaged in pursuing Arrowmont’s options for the School’s future.”
What does this mean for the future of Arrowmont?
The Arrowmont Board of Governors is fully committed to the ongoing success of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. However, the sale of the land on which the school is located represents a major threat to the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. While Arrowmont could be relocated and rebuilt elsewhere, the cost of doing so would greatly exceed the amount of money that Pi Beta Phi Fraternity has suggested it might offer. The Arrowmont Board of Governors believes that losing the historic campus and the professional craft studio facilities and dormitories would be devastating to the school, not only in the short term, but also because it would sever its long-lasting ties to the early heritage of Pi Beta Phi in Gatlinburg. Of additional concern is the fact that the immediate loss of revenue and constituents (both local and national students and conference attendees) while the new facilities are being built could prove catastrophic.
Will there be workshops in 2009?
YES! There are no interruptions to scheduled programs and workshops and all programs will be held as planned. Arrowmont is continuing to do business as usual.
Isn’t Arrowmont, which is a successor of the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School, a philanthropy of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity?
That has been the case ever since Arrowmont was created as a School of Arts and Crafts in 1968. The Pi Beta Phi Settlement School, which was founded in 1910, was designed assist the citizens of Gatlinburg and the surrounding area in educating their children, which included not only reading and writing but also agricultural and vocational education, health education, and cultural exposure. A huge number of individual members of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity consider the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School Inc. d.b.a. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts to be the Fraternity’s historical philanthropy and will continue to support it in the future.
What is the status of the land and buildings at Arrowmont?
Since 1991, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity has been leasing approximately 14 acres of land to Pi Beta Phi Settlement School Inc. (d.b.a. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts) for $1 per year. The current lease runs through August 31, 2011. Pi Beta Phi Fraternity owns all of the historic buildings currently being used by Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, which include the large central studio complex designed by architect Hubert Bebb in the center of the campus, the former Health Clinic on Parkway, the Staff House and Dining Hall, the Red Barn, and the historic cottages now used as dormitories. Arrowmont owns all buildings that have been erected since 1991, which include the Wood Studio, the Pollard and Hughes Hall Dormitories, and the Resident Artist studio building.
Isn’t Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes, what was the original campus of the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School contains two national Historic Districts, which were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 and 2007 with the approval of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. One of the districts also includes the Arrowcraft Shop, the historic Ogle cabin, and the original schoolhouse, which are leased by the Fraternity to entities other than Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. These historic structures, a part of Gatlinburg’s heritage that is closely tied to the history of the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School, would also be impacted by a land sale.
Does the fact that the property contains two National Historic Districts affect what can be done with the property?
No, it does not affect what can be done with the property.
Listing on the National Register of Historic Places does not:
• Limit the rights of property owners to use, develop or sell their historic properties.
• Require that historic properties be maintained, repaired, or restored. Require that historic properties be open to the public.
• Automatically bring about local landmark designation or local historic district zoning.
• Automatically stop federal undertakings that could adversely impact historic resources.*
• Require review of local, state, or privately funded projects that could affect properties.
(Information provided by Tennessee Historical Commission.)
*However, when a proposed action, such as road building, undertaken using federal funds, might impact a listed site, a federal review process can be triggered that could result in delay or possible prevention of that action.
The Tennessee Historical Commission’s letter of August 19 states:
“As a popular tourist destination, Gatlinburg is continually growing and changing, trying to improve its economic base. While the tourism industry is beneficial to the city, it has resulted in the loss of most of the historic resources in Gatlinburg. The collections of historic resources at Arrowmont are the only historic districts in downtown Gatlinburg. We hope that Arrowmont and Pi Beta Phi can work out a solution that will allow the campus to remain.”
What does this mean for the relationship of Pi Beta Phi and Arrowmont?
Pi Beta Phi’s decision to sell the property on which Arrowmont sits will have a major impact on the School. Statements made by Fraternity officials have signaled that this would not only be the end of an era of Pi Beta Phi’s financial support for Arrowmont but the end of the official relationship between Pi Beta Phi and Arrowmont. However, many, many individual Pi Beta Phi members and Pi Beta Phi alumnae clubs have indicated their wish to continue to support the school, even if the Fraternity should officially cease to do so when the land is sold.
Is Arrowmont in a financial crisis?
Arrowmont, like many other nonprofit art institutions, requires significant financial support to operate. Tuition and fees cover only 60 percent of our operating budget. If Arrowmont must relocate, it will face significant financial challenges. Increased financial support from individuals, corporations, grants, and from other sources will be necessary to build our future.
How can I help?
1. Join Friends of Arrowmont or the Signature Circle. Friends of Arrowmont is a program of on-going support and annual donor recognition for the school. The Signature Circle is an active patron’s group of supporters who donate $1,000 or more annually and receive invitations to exhibitions and special programs. Contributions can be made through the Arrowmont website.
2. Sign up for a workshop and bring a friend!
3. Follow all the various discussion groups on the Internet and let your others know you support Arrowmont.
4. Keep checking the Arrowmont website for the latest news and developments.
5. Volunteer your time, expertise, or other valuable assets to keep Arrowmont growing and thriving in the community.
6. Consider including Arrowmont in your long-term financial plans.
Statement of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Board of Governors
September 7, 2008
For Immediate Release:
Members of the Board of Governors were unaware of the plan for Pi Beta Phi Fraternity to sell the property on which Arrowmont is located until late July 2008. In mid-August, the Board of Governors engaged an attorney to investigate every possibility related to the sale of the land, which is currently leased to the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts through 2011.
The Arrowmont Board of Governors is fully committed to the ongoing success of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. However, the sale of the land on which the school is located represents a major threat to the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. While Arrowmont could be relocated and rebuilt elsewhere, the cost of doing so would greatly exceed the amount of money that Pi Beta Phi Fraternity has suggested it might offer. The Arrowmont Board of Governors believes that losing the historic campus and the professional craft studio facilities and dormitories would be devastating to the school, not only in the short term, but also because it would sever its long-lasting ties to the early heritage of Pi Beta Phi in Gatlinburg. Of additional concern is the fact that the immediate loss of revenue and constituents (both local and national students and conference attendees) while the new facilities are being built could prove catastrophic.
The Arrowmont Board of Governors would like to make clear that Arrowmont continues the historically important role that its predecessor institution, the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School, played in creating and maintaining Gatlinburg's identity as a major center of craft heritage. From its inception, the Settlement School not only taught education basics but also held craft education classes for the local community. In the post-World War II period, an era that saw the studio craft movement emerge across the United States and abroad, the Settlement School pioneered a series of groundbreaking international Summer Craft Workshops in conjunction with the University of Tennessee. These early workshops paved the way for the school’s national reputation as a place that nurtured the growth of the American craft movement.
Today, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts plays a vital role by providing high quality art and craft instruction and outreach to Sevier County schools. It also serves as a lead partner in Gatlinburg's craft community. Further, the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a key participant in a brand new Tennessee Department of Tourism initiative, undertaken as a partnership with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the National Geographic Society, the University of Tennessee, and the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU. This effort, to establish “sustainable heritage tourism” in Gatlinburg, is designed to work as an economic engine attracting high quality tourism and increased tourist revenue to the gateway cities of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding region.
Finally, the Arrowmont Board of Governors is concerned about the impact of the school's removal from the Gatlinburg townscape. The land along the Parkway that the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity is attempting to sell contains two National Historic Districts placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 and 2007. The Tennessee Historical Commission’s letter of August 19 states:
“As a popular tourist destination, Gatlinburg is continually growing and changing, trying to improve its economic base. While the tourism industry is beneficial to the city, it has resulted in the loss of most of the historic resources in Gatlinburg. The collections of historic resources at Arrowmont are the only historic districts in downtown Gatlinburg. We hope that Arrowmont and Pi Beta Phi can work out a solution that will allow the campus to remain.”
Statement from David Willard, Director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Response to the August 30 Knoxville News-Sentinel Article
September 2, 2008
For Immediate Release:
On Saturday, August 30, 2008 it was made public that Lee and Lori Reagan,
along with Allen Cox, met with Josh Flory of the Knoxville News-Sentinel,
to discuss in more detail the plans for the property that Arrowmont leases and the surrounding acreage.
In the front page article written by Flory, the Reagans revealed that
"Arrowmont is in [the] initial plans of [the] site's development group."
David Willard, Director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and the
Board of Governors have not been given the opportunity to view, discuss or
respond to the plans mentioned. In the article, it is stated that Wendy
Drochelman, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity's director of marketing and
communications, says that "discussions would be between Arrowmont and the
development group" regarding the "spot for the school" after the sale is
completed; however, to date, the information has only been shared with Pi
Beta Phi Fraternity leadership and not with Arrowmont or the Board of
Governors.
In response to the Knoxville News-Sentinel article, David Willard says
he is encouraged to hear that the Reagans are concerned about the future
of Arrowmont. Mr. Willard and the Board of Governors welcome the
opportunity to discuss their plans. Arrowmont's Board of Governors planning
committees are exploring several options for the future of the school.
We are overwhelmed with the tremendous show of support and confidence from the
community and our constituents and will continue to keep you informed about
Arrowmont's plans.
Statement from David Willard, Director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and the Arrowmont Board of Governors
August 25, 2008
For Immediate Release:
Arrowmont and its Board of Govenors want to reassure students and members of the art community at large that Arrowmont will continue to operate as normal and scheduled classes, gallery exhibitions and conferences will continue as planned.
David Willard, Director of Arrowmont Schools of Arts and Crafts, in conjunction with the Arrowmont Board of Governors, is pleased with the positive work accomplished during the board meeting held last week. Arrowmont’s Board of Governors is in discussion with Pi Beta Phi Fraternity regarding the possible sale of the property currently leased by Arrowmont. All of Arrowmont’s options are being explored under the guidance of legal council while Arrowmont continues to operate fully and as usual.
Arrowmont and its Board of Governors, which includes several dedicated Pi Beta Phi Fraternity members, recognizes the importance of Arrowmont to the Gatlinburg community and to the greater art community nationally. The Board of Governors is currently exploring many options to move the school forward.
The support and concern received by Arrowmont is very much appreciated. We look forward to sharing more information as it becomes available and will keep you informed about how you can help build Arrowmont’s future.
Statement from Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Board of Governors
August 22, 2008
We have recently become aware that our landlord, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, is considering entering nto a real estate contract to sell the Arrowmont property.
Arrowmont is a living institution. We have a long history of involvement in and service to the Gatlinburg community. We are recognized as one of the premier arts and crafts schools in the country. We are committed to honoring our tradition and history. Our intention is for the school to continue. We have a lease that has several years yet to run. We are looking at our legal options with respect to our lease and the possible sale.
Previous news:
Pi Beta Phi Gatlinburg Property Negotiations
It has recently been announced by Pi Beta Phi Fraternity that they are in negotiations with a party interested in purchasing Fraternity property in Gatlinburg, which is currently being leased to Arrowmont. Arrowmont and its Board of Governors are currently working with Pi Beta Phi to continue the success of Arrowmont.
This news in no way affects Arrowmont's scheduled programs. Arrowmont is conducting business as usual and is looking forward to welcoming students to campus this fall for its array of one week and weekend workshops. The gallery is soon to be brimming with an inspirational exhibition of pottery in conjunction with Utilitarian Clay V: Celebrate the Object National Symposium that will take center stage Sept. 10-13. You won't want to miss this fantastic exhibit of world-renowned ceramic artists that runs Aug. 22-Nov. 1.
Arrowmont is committed to its mission of enriching lives through art and will continue to provide the highest quality instruction to our students, fostering self-expression through hands-on art experiences.
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