THE FOLK ART CENTER
382 Blue Ridge Parkway | Asheville, NC
828-298-7928
Tuesday-Sunday
10am-5pm
FIRST LEVEL
Shop Fine American Craft
Allanstand Craft Shop
Established in 1895, Allanstand Craft Shop is nationally recognized as the oldest craft shop in America. Explore artisan-made jewelry, textiles, pottery, glass, and much more, crafted by the members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, over 400 artists and craftspeople of Southern Appalachia.
DAILY CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS
March - December
Visitors are invited to watch and interact with Guild artisans demonstrating their craft in the lobby from 10am-4pm. Visit craftguild.org/events or call 828-298-7928 for the schedule.
SECOND LEVEL
EXHIBITIONS
Main Gallery
Featuring both traditional and contemporary works by members of the Guild and affiliated organizations.
Focus Gallery
Exhibitions focusing on the works of five members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
PERMANENT COLLECTION
Craft Traditions
Selected Works from the Guild's Permanent Collection of international craft ranging from AD 1000 to the present day. Alcove Room: select works from the Permanent Collection.
ALLANSTAND INTERIORS
Showcasing one-of-a-kind furniture and home accessories crafted by Guild members.
ROBERT W. GRAY LIBRARY
Named for one of the Folk Art Center's founders, the library contains over 20,000 historical and current volumes of books, exhibition catalogs, video, and more relating to craft from around the world.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GUILD & THE FOLK ART CENTER
HISTORY
Built in 1980 to preserve Southern Appalachian culture on the Blue Ridge Parkway
During the construction of the Parkway, a cooperative relationship formed between the National Park Service & the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Together with the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Folk Art Center was built.
Today, it holds a craft shop, library, three exhibition spaces, an auditorium for special events, and a National Park Service bookstore and information desk.
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