Preserving & Teaching Traditional Appalachian Craft

Arrowmont has offered educational programming in Central Appalachia for over 100 years, and we have seen first-hand the importance of preserving traditional arts & crafts. As technology changes every aspect of our lives many traditional craft methods are being lost to time. Through immersive instruction we are ensuring cultural heritage is transferred between generations, guaranteeing the future of Appalachian arts & crafts for all.

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we connect traditional practitioners with future generations. Arrowmont offers three unique programs to support our initiative to preserve Appalachian arts & crafts culture.

ArtReach

Founded in 1992, ArtReach brings Appalachian crafts and culture to rural Central Appalachian communities where funding in arts education is limited. The program provides 4^th-12^th grade students the opportunity to learn about and appreciate their culture, incorporating the importance of craft in their daily lives.

Arrowmont Legacy

Legacy workshops offer educators and administrators the opportunity to learn traditional arts, crafts, and culture through an immersive 1-week, onsite experience. In addition to artistic application, educators will learn how traditional craft relates to teaching other subjects, enhancing the learning experience for their own students. Offered twice annually, this program is free to admitted teacher-students.

Visions Internship

This internship opportunity provides arts administration experience to individuals interested in pursuing a career within their own Appalachian communities. Arrowmont welcomes all Appalachian applicants from qualifying counties with preference given to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+ and all other marginalized voices currently residing in central Appalachia.