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Arrowmont raises $100,000 and selects Bill May as Executive Director


bill-may(GATLINBURG, TN) 6/22/11 – The Board of Governors of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts have selected Bill May as the organization's Executive Director. The announcement was made at last Friday evening's inaugural Arrowmont Art & Wine Auction, which raised over $100,000 for the School. May has served as Arrowmont's Interim Executive Director since December.

May has a long association with Arrowmont. While learning the craft of stained glass, May pursued studies in drawing, sculpture and stained glass design.  Classes taken at Arrowmont were important in his artistic development.  Later, May joined the school as an instructor in stained glass. In 2009 he joined the School's Board of Governors, and was chosen as Arrowmont's Interim Executive Director after the departure of David Willard in December 2010. Since that time, he has been responsible for the day-to-day management of the School's programming and operations.

Board President Geoffrey Wolpert made the announcement that May had accepted the permanent position as Executive Director at the first Arrowmont Art & Wine Auction, which was held Friday, June 17 and netted over $100,000 to benefit the ongoing operations of the School.

Wolpert cited May's history with and deep understanding of the School as factors in the Board's decision to offer him the position.  "Bill May is perfect for this job. He has the right experience as an educator and practicing artist. He has taught at Arrowmont, his children and wife have participated in numerous classes, and he has even served as a board member. He is proven and well liked by the leadership in the area through his years of positive community work. We could not have anyone better."

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead an organization that has been so influential in my own life and career," said May. "I am pleased to be working with a capable and experienced staff and a committed Board of Governors."

Bill Griffith, who has served as Arrowmont's Director of Programs since 1987, expressed his support for the selection of May as Executive Director. "Bill May's professional and personal relationship as an artist and leader is highly respected. He has established solid trust within the Arrowmont staff and will provide the necessary enthusiasm and leadership to move Arrowmont forward during this transformative time."

Longtime instructor David Ellsworth was pleased with the Board's decision. "Bill and I have had the opportunity to exchange ideas about the history of the School and the potential for its future. I found him to be a very good communicator with sound ideas and a realistic understanding of Arrowmont's needs through his own insight and personal history as a past student."

"Arrowmont has a legacy as a transformative institution," May noted. "The School will continue being a leader in art and craft education and in keeping the art of the handmade alive and relevant."

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About Arrowmont

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a nationally renowned arts center that offers an artist in residence program and one, two-week and weekend workshops in ceramics, fiber, metals, glass, painting, mixed media, and woodworking for the beginner to advanced artist. Students learn in professionally equipped studios on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg, TN. Five galleries, an art supply store, and artist resource center are open to visitors year round.  For more information about Arrowmont's programs, visit www.arrowmont.org or call (865) 436-5860.

 

Arrowmont selects Bill May as Interim Executive Director

(GATLINBURG, TN) 11/29/10 – The Board of Governors of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts announced today the appointment of Bill May as the organization's Interim Executive Director. May, a professional stained glass artist, has served as an instructor at the arts center and is the owner of May Studios. He will begin overseeing the operations of the School immediately.

"It is an honor to be asked to serve as Interim Executive Director," May noted. "This is an opportunity to be part of an institution that has helped shape a community, contributed to the development of the arts and crafts movement nationally, and played a significant role in my personal growth as an artist. I look forward to joining Arrowmont's experienced and dedicated staff, as well as our supporters and partners, in realizing every opportunity to advance our mission of 'enriching lives through art.'"

A native of Birmingham, AL, May attended Tulane University on scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology. After graduate study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he taught high school in Birmingham until moving to Tennessee in 1981. He designed and built his home near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park while managing an area woodworking shop.

May is a member of the Stained Glass Association of America and the 2011 class of Leadership Sevier. He is a former member of the Gatlinburg Gateway Foundation's Board of Directors. In 1992, he established the Gatlinburg-based May Studios, which specializes in custom art glass for architectural settings. The work of the studio has been recognized through awards and works have been commissioned for ecclesiastical, commercial and residential spaces in seven states.

He has a long association with Arrowmont. While learning the craft of stained glass, May pursued studies in drawing, sculpture and stained glass design. Classes taken at Arrowmont were important in his artistic development. Later, May joined the school as an instructor in stained glass. In 2009, he joined the School's Board of Governors.

"It is Arrowmont's good fortune to have among it's supporters a practicing artist who is available to step in and take on the day-to-day management of the School during this exciting time," said Board President Geoffrey Wolpert. "Bill's familiarity with both the School and the community will be a tremendous asset as we sustain the forward momentum we've achieved since making the decision to remain in Gatlinburg."

Wolpert noted that the Board's immediate priorities are to work with Gatlinburg officials to secure the School's property and that plans for the selection of a permanent Executive Director will be considered in the coming months. As Interim Executive Director, May will lead efforts and planning initiatives to raise funds, as well as to develop the necessary partnerships to strengthen Arrowmont's role both in the community and as a leader in arts education. Arrowmont's Community Classes begin in January. The 2011 Workshop Catalog will be available in December with courses beginning in March.

"Arrowmont will honor our history while creating a vision for the future," said May. "The School will continue the quality programs for which we are known, while developing partnerships with our community and exploring new opportunities nationally to strengthen our commitment to arts education. My commitment to this work is both professional and personal, and I am excited to begin."

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