Tech students, faculty and staff receive a 50 percent discount on all workshops offered at the Appalachian Center for Craft and can obtain a one-hour elective credit for the six-day intensive summer workshops.More than 100 workshops are offered each year in six mediums: blacksmithing, clay, fibers, glass, metals and wood.
“The workshops allow the public to have access to world renowned artists,” Gail Gentry, workshop and event coordinator said.
The difficulty of the workshops range from beginning to advanced, and some workshops are for all skill levels.
“Everyone, from those who have never touched the material, to professionals can learn something new about the medium, develop a new perspective of that art form,” Gentry said.
In order to receive the 50 percent discount, students and employees must register within 30 days of the start of a workshop with seats available.
There are eight-week workshops from January to March and September to November on Monday or Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. Weekend workshops are held in May and September. The half-priced eight-week and weekend workshops cost $125.
The summer workshops in June and July start at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings and end at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoons with a show and tell session. Most of the summer workshops cost $230 after the Tech discount, except for glass in July which costs $300 and a two-week clay workshop which costs $450. Some instructors charge varying material fees as well.
To receive credit for the summer workshops, students must first get a permit from Gentry. There is an additional credit hour fee that must be paid to Tech, and bachelor of fine arts students are limited to three of these elective credits.
Room and board, including a meal plan, is available for summer workshops. For an additional $440, enrollees can stay on site for five nights, receive 15 meals at the Walkway Café and experience all that the craft center has to offer.
The Craft Center is an 87,000 square foot facility located on more than 500 wooded acres overlooking Center Hill Lake. There are four hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty and a canoe available for use.
There are demonstrations and power points presented regularly in the evenings. Staying on-site allows enrollees to attend these and have easy access to the studios.
“There are several benefits to staying at the Craft Center,” Gentry said. “There’s a community feeling when you stay and interact with other artists. Every artist has their own perspective, something to give.”
For more information, visit www.tntech.edu/craftcenter or contact Gentry at (615) 597-6801 or ggentry@tntech.edu.
