Artist rendering of new Arrowmont dormitory. Image courtesy of Arrowmont.

GATLINBURG, TN — Arrowmont, a national contemporary arts and crafts education center, broke ground for a new dormitory and a new main entrance this week. The structures were destroyed during the Gatlinburg Wildfires on November 28, 2016.

The new main entrance will be located off Baskins Creek By-Pass.

Arrowmont Board of Governors President Steve Gottlieb commended the firefighters for their work in helping to save the community, and said, “Though the fire caused a serious problem for Arrowmont, it served as a catalyst to move us along the path we were planning to go anyway—it forced us to go there sooner.”

Bill May, executive director, thanked the local community and national supporters and said, “Your support has enabled us to recover and take an important step forward.”

Approximately 50 people attended including Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner, City Manager Cindy Ogle, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, members of the City and County Commission, the Arrowmont Board of Governors, Arrowmont staff, and community members.

Approximately 50 people attended including Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner, City Manager Cindy Ogle, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, members of the City and County Commission, the Arrowmont Board of Governors, Arrowmont staff, and community members. Image courtesy of Arrowmont.

The four-story dormitory will be built on the site of Hughes Hall and Wild Wing, dormitories that were lost in the November wildfires. The dorm will have 43 private rooms and baths, a kitchen, screened porch with outdoor fireplace and gathering place, and an elevator. Designed by Tom Trotter, Trotter and Associates, Architects, the new dorm design is based on the design of the original buildings. The dorm will be constructed by D&S Builders of Sevierville, TN. Recently, Arrowmont developed a campus master plan. One outcome of the plan was to change the main entrance of the campus from the Parkway to Baskins Creek. Work has begun on the entrance and new road into the campus. Charles Blalock & Sons Construction is building the entrance and road. Arrowmont's History

Founded as a settlement school in 1912 by the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, Arrowmont has grown into a national contemporary arts and crafts education center supporting learning opportunities for individuals of all skill levels and ages. Arrowmont is located on 13 acres in the heart of Gatlinburg, TN only minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with access to tourist attractions, the convenience of a large city nearby, and a thriving arts and crafts community. Arrowmont offers a valuable learning environment—an unexpected oasis amidst the bustle of a popular tourist destination.

The heritage of the School is rooted in an approach to the arts that builds upon traditional arts and crafts—150 national workshops are offered annually, a full complement of community classes, children’s classes and ArtReach providing a day of art to over 1,200 children annually, and gallery exhibitions, symposia and conferences. People travel from across the nation and the globe to take classes at Arrowmont and experience the magic.