THE FOLK ART CENTER
382 Blue Ridge Parkway | Asheville, NC
828-298-7928
OPEN DAILY
MONDAY-SUNDAY
10AM-5PM
Exhibitions
MAIN GALLERY
A Legacy Worth Noting, February 1–April 30, 2025 (Featuring the work of Life and Lifetime Achievement Members, current and in the permanent collection)
Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Program Graduate Show, May 10–August 20, 2025
big/LITTLE, August 30–January 21, 2026 (Members Exhibition focusing on play in proportion)
FOCUS GALLERY
A Natural Influence | February 8 - April 20, 2025
Patience Makes Perfect | April 26 - July 13, 2025
An Organic Edge | July 19 - October 5, 2025
Kaleidoscopic Whimsy | October 11 - December 28, 2025
Daily Craft Demos
Visitors to the Folk Art Center will be greeted by demonstrations in the lobby from 10am-4pm daily March-December. Schedule is subject to change.
Educational Events Programming
March 15 - National Quilting Day
April 5 - Glass, Metal, and Clay Day
May 10 - Fiber Day
May 24-25 Craft Conference
August 9 - Wood Day
September 21–22 - Heritage Day
Fairs and Markets
May 3 - Pop-up Mini Craft Fair
June 7 - Pop-up Mini Craft Fair
July 17-20 & Oct 16-19 Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands (downtown Asheville).
December 6 & 13 - Holiday Markets
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 DEMONSTRATION
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.
Preserving Southern Appalachian craft & culture since 1980
SECOND LEVEL
EXHIBITION
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.
