The Asheville Art Museum was founded in 1948 by a group of artists to champion the creativity of Western North Carolina (WNC), bring art of national significance to the community, and encourage dialogue. Through generations of experienced and dedicated volunteer and professional leadership, the Museum continues to realize its mission: to engage, enlighten, and inspire individuals and enrich community through dynamic experiences in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Collection houses over 8,500 works in all media, including regionally and nationally significant paintings and drawings, prints, photography, sculpture, craft and decorative arts, and focal collections of works by members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Appalachian artists, Black Mountain College artists, traditional and studio craft, and regional architecture. The Museum has been particularly active in collecting historic and contemporary craft and studio glass with a focus on the Southeast and WNC.

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The Blue Ridge Craft Trails highlight the rich creative heritage in Western North Carolina. The project, an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, guides visitors across the region to craft artists’ studios, shops, and galleries filled with local, handmade artwork. Over 340 artists and galleries are listed in the directory, offering visitors unique opportunities to meet creators, view art, and purchase authentic, handmade pieces. The Blue Ridge Craft Trails also feature itineraries by region, guiding travelers through the Foothills, High Country, Central Mountains, and Far West regions of the state, making it easy to plan an immersive adventure that highlights individuals, communities, and towns. Craft Trails artists benefit from promotional opportunities and are involved in vending events, educational programs, and networking meetups.

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Mission

The Center for Craft amplifies how and why craft matters by increasing access to resources that catalyze artists and scholars nationwide. Proudly based in Asheville, it has been at the center of the conversation about the future of craft since 1996.

What We Do

The Center for Craft resources the preservation and innovation of craft. We catalyze the makers and thinkers behind the objects that shape our lives. 

How We Do It

• Grants and fellowships that provide funding, networks, and peer-to-peer learning nationwide
• Exhibitions that illuminate 21st-century practices of craft
• Public programs that tell the story of how and why craft matters

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Presenting, Promoting and Inspiring Creativity in Our Community

The Cabarrus Arts Council was founded in 1980 in response to the North Carolina Arts Council’s plan to establish a local arts council in every county. In 1982, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners selected the arts council to serve as its Designated County Partner, receiving and distributing Grassroots funding from the state and the state arts council.Today, the arts council programs and operates the Davis Theatre and The Galleries, conducts one of North Carolina’s largest art-in-education programs for both the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City school systems, supports arts organizations and artists through grants and workshops, and serves as a catalyst and consultant for public and corporate art.

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Tucked away in the mountains of western North Carolina, the John C. Campbell Folk School (“the Folk School”) offers weeklong and weekend classes for adults in craft, art, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography, writing, and more. Our non-competitive and small-sized classes are offered year-round on a scenic 270-acre campus, attracting students from all over the world. The Folk School transforms lives, bringing people together in a nurturing environment for experiences in learning and community life that spark self-discovery. “I sing behind the plow,” the Folk School’s motto since its founding in 1925, reflects the importance of lifelong learning and growth while finding joy throughout every step of the process.

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The Mint Museum welcomes all to be inspired and transformed through the power of art and creativity. Among the most significant public institutions in Charlotte, the museum holds a permanent collection of nearly 35,000 objects, one of the largest in the Southeast, spanning art, craft, and design from around the world.
Widely recognized as an invaluable cultural and educational resource, The Mint is committed not only to the growth and quality of its collections but also to nurturing appreciation of the vital role the arts play in our lives.

Each year, the museum celebrates this mission through programs and events such as the annual Potters Market, which showcases exceptional ceramic artistry and supports both artists and the community.
The next Potters Market will be held on September 27, 2025. Guided by values of inclusivity, innovation, collaboration, and empathy, the museum engages communities in lifelong relationships with art, enhancing lives and creating a more connected and welcoming world.

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Penland School of Craft is dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Penland offers one-, two-, and eight-week workshops in books and paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, and wood. The school also offers artists’ residencies, community collaboration programs, and a gallery and information center.

The Penland Gallery & Visitor Center, located at the entrance of Penland School, serves as an inspiring introduction to contemporary craft. The gallery features curated exhibitions from March to December, showcasing the work of current and former Penland instructors, resident artists, and alumni from across the country. The Visitor Center Gallery provides a visual overview of Penland’s history and current programming, while the Lucy Morgan Sales Gallery showcases an impressive collection of functional and sculptural craft created by over one hundred fifty artists.

At Penland, craft involves continuous exploration of materials, techniques, and ideas. The gallery supports both the artists and their works, which embody this creative philosophy.

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Starworks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes community and economic development by providing outstanding artistic educational programs.  We provide artistic opportunities to the public and showcase outstanding talent from around the world through our Artist Residency programs. Starworks hosts studios in Glass, Ceramics, and Metal, as well as an onsite Ceramic Supply Shop, Cafe & Taproom, and Galleries.

Starworks is a rural visual arts organization based in Star, North Carolina. We are dedicated to expanding cultural access in under-resourced areas, strengthening community identity, and fostering creative exchange. Our programs connect local residents with arts of the highest quality through workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative projects, ensuring that even small towns have access to transformative cultural experiences.

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Silver River Center for Chair Caning is the nation’s only chair caning school & museum. Operated by David Klingler and Brandy Clements (a 4th generation chair weaver), it has recently re-located to Weaverville, NC just a few miles north of Asheville. During their 15 years in the River Arts District, they wove over 10,000 chairs hand taught hundreds of sessions to aspiring weavers, furniture makers, and those who just want to save their heirloom chair.

They are considered experts in their field and ambassadors of the craft. They teach both in-person and online at the school and on YouTube, as well as on location at craft schools like Arrowmont & John C Campbell Folk School. They travel the country spreading the love of chairs across the land, speaking at museums and craft shows, teaching kids, adults, and anyone who finds themselves in their presence.

Silver River is an Official Education Center of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Their new instructional book, The Woven Chair, published by Blue Hills Press is launching alongside their grand re-opening New Years 2026.

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