The Folk Art Center in Asheville (on the Blue Ridge Parkway) showcases the finest in traditional and contemporary craft of the Southern Appalachians. It houses the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s century-old Allanstand Craft Shop, exhibitions in three galleries, a library and an auditorium. The Guild's Permanent Collection is featured in an exhibition of craft from Appalachia. Located on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 382 (near the U.S. 70 intersection, 8 miles southeast of downtown), the Folk Art Center was opened in 1980 as a cooperative effort between the Guild, the National Park Service and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Nearby is the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Visitors Center.

The Folk Art Center is the most popular attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway, welcoming 250,000 visitors each year. From March through December, visitors can observe craftspeople at work in daily craft demonstrations as well as a series of educational events held year round. The Folk Art Center also houses the Eastern National Bookstore with Parkway souvenirs and Blue Ridge Parkway Information Center. Read about special exhibitions at the Folk Art Center. Free Admission.

Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
January - March 9am-5pm
April - December 9am- 6pm

The Folk Art Center offers an unparalled opportunity to experience Appalachian culture and craft through events, exhibitions and shopping. Go to the Folk Art Center Web site.

Annual Events (See more Art Events & Festivals)
Fiber Weekend is Mother’s Day weekend (May) with craftspeople at the Folk Art Center sharing their inspiration and expertise in a variety of textile arts.Demonstrations on Saturday include: quilting and appliqué, doll making, weaving, mixed media fiber arts, clothing design, printing and surface design, tapestry weaving, and natural dyeing.

Clay Day on the first Saturday in June features craft demonstrations and hands-on activities for children and adults. Members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild demonstrate throwing on the potter's wheel, hand building, and surface design on clay, among other techniques. A highlight of the day is the “Make-and-Take” Raku Firing. Buy a $10 pot, glaze it and watch as expert potters raku fire it for you. Raku is a ceramic firing process which uses fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs.

Wood Day on the second Saturday in August is an event that brings together the woodworkers of the Southern Highland Craft Guild to demonstrate a wide range of woodworking techniques and skills, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At 1:00 the woodchips will begin to fly during the Annual Carve-Off Competition. Participants begin with a simple block of wood. They are challenged to carve that block into a work of art within a two-hour period. When the whistle blows, a panel of esteemed judges determine who has fashioned the finest and most skilled carved wood sculpture. Carvers must sign up by 12:30 to compete.

The Guild Fair on the Parkway is held on a Saturday in June and August, 10am – 5pm. A festival, community event and exposition, visitors can expect to see lots of fine craft made by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Over 40 craftspeople will set up booths with original works for sale, clay artists will be wheel throwing and raku firing, local musicians will be kicking out old-time tunes on the hillside, and regional BBQ shall be served in the true southern style.

Heritage Weekend (second weekend in September) is the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s weekend to celebrate heritage crafts of the Appalachian Mountains. Guild members and other traditional craftspeople show craft techniques with hand tools, native materials, and lots of ingenuity through demonstrations in the native arts. In addition to crafts, several other traditional aspects of Appalachian life will be featured, such as traditional music and storytelling. Don’t miss the 26th Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition on Saturday, 2:00-3:00pm. This popular autumn tradition brings mountain toys, live music and wacky fun to the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center.

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: Held each July and October in downtown Asheville. See our Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Guide.

History
In 1890 when Frances Goodrich, a Yale graduate, moved to Buncombe County, NC, to do missionary work for the Presbyterian Church, she could hardly have imagined what would eventually become of her "good work". She found a few women who were still weaving traditional coverlets in wool and cotton, and from these associations Goodrich's idea of a cottage industry that would assist mountain families grew. Allanstand Cottage Industries, which she founded in 1897, in Madison County, NC, would ultimately become Allanstand Craft Shop. Goodrich moved the business to downtown Asheville in 1908 and from her College Street headquarters, she would network with other leaders of the Southern Arts and Crafts movement.

In 1928, many of them met at Penland School of crafts and the idea of the Southern Highland Craft Guild was formed. Chartered in 1930, it would grow to become one of the strongest craft organizations in the country. Second in age only to the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts, the Guild now represents over 900 craftspeople in 293 counties of 9 southeastern states. The Guild has partnered with the National Park Service for more than fifty years.