With a creative community of juried members spanning over nine states, the Southern Highland Craft Guild fosters opportunities for makers to build, market, and maintain their creative livelihood through continuing education, retail outlets, and mentorship. We are invested in helping members achieve their goals and providing them with the resources to refine and sell their craft.
Impacting the
Creative Community
We educate the region and arts community on the importance of craft and its ability to impact the local creative economy. Through our retail locations, demonstrations, craft fairs, and special events, we promote the purpose and appreciation of our makers and their craft.
Cultivating Fine Craft
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an advocate for high quality craftsmanship and goods made, sold, and curated in the Southern Highlands. Since 1930 we have served as a visionary advocate to help generations value the design and function of traditional and modern crafts.
Our Makers
For 90 years, the Guild has curated over 800 artisans, juried in based on their fine craftsmanship of twelve different mediums. These makers reside in the mountain regions of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, & West Virginia.
Upcoming Events
FEB
2021
Jan. 23-May 9 | Thermal Belt: Artists of the Foothills
(Presented by Tryon Arts & Crafts School, an Education Center Member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild). This exhibit in the Main Gallery on the second level of the Folk Art Center features artists working in the foothills in and around Tryon who are affiliated with the school.
On the second level of the Folk Art Center, "Resilience" is on display in the Focus Gallery now until April 27, 2021. This exhibit features five Guild Members: Joe Rhodes (jewelry), Diana Ramsay (quilts), Lynn Fisher (clay), Karen Noggle (leather), and the collaborative work of Judy Brater & Marion Schlauch (clay).
Visit the exhibits during open hours of the Folk Art Center, Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 am-5:00 pm.
News & Stories
Southern Highland Craft Guild hosts New Focus Exhibition “Resilience”
Resilience Feb. 6 – April 27 Diana Ramsay The Southern Highland Craft Guild bounces back from an unprecedented year with…
Newest exhibit at the Folk Art Center features Artists of the Foothills
Thermal Belt: Artists of the Foothills presented by Tryon Arts & Crafts School January 23-May 9, 2021 The Southern Highland…
Clementine Douglas: A Major Figure in the Revival and Promotion of Appalachian Crafts
CLEMENTINE DOUGLAS: A Major Figure in the Revival and Promotion of Appalachian Crafts Written by Education Director, Janet Wiseman Clementine…
Featured Maker
Historical Collection
We invite you to walk through our permanent collection of historical, archived, Appalachian craft at the Folk Art Center. This exhibit of approximately 250 works features woodcarving, textiles, furniture, basketry, pottery, dolls, and other crafts of Southern Appalachia, dating from 1855 to the late 20th century. Many pieces date from the 19th century and were collected in the Asheville area by Frances L. Goodrich, a founding member of the Guild.
Our Permanent Collection also includes works from Berea College, Campbell Folk School, Penland School and other centers that have taught craft skills and connected makers to markets throughout the 20th century. These institutions also added their own patterns to the rhythms of mountain life, such as the Friday morning custom of local carvers coming to the Folk School to sell their latest works.
