Tina Honerkamp
Rose Hardesty
Christina Bendo
Haywood Handmade Gallery
Unleash your inner creativity at arts council
The Mountaineer July 10, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council is full of opportunities to make art in July. Creation Classes There are four creation classes in July: Landscape Painting July 15, Paint a Barn Quilt July 22, Stamped Metal Earrings July 28 and Advanced Barn Quilt Painting July 29. Register at: www.haywoodarts.org/creation-classes/. Quilt Blocks The […]
New exhibit ‘Water’ to debut during Art After Dark in Waynesville Friday
The Mountaineer July 5, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council will open its newest show “Water” with a reception at 5 p.m. Friday, July 7, in conjunction with Art After Dark art stroll held the first Friday of the month. With work created by more than 42 local artists inspired by water, this show demonstrates […]
Aaron R. Morrell
As a native of the Southern Appalachians, it’s the grit, the weather, the rawness of nature and the strength of the folks who inhabit it that inspires my work. Since I was a child, I’ve always had a passion for storytelling, nostalgia and the romance of days gone by. It’s because of those stories, either […]
More than a hangout: after school program fills a niche for middle schoolers
The Mountaineer by Vicki Hyatt May 17, 2023 This year’s afterschool program at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville was kicked up a notch with new partnerships — and new programs. The 150 middle-school students who flock to the church for a safe, fun place to hang out until their parents get off work had […]
Renewing the fire through education: A conversation with Lori Reed
Smoky Mountain News by Breanna Delannoy May 25, 2023 We can learn about cultures, history, social and economic structures, and more importantly ourselves — especially where we have come from and where we are going as a society. Every person has a story to tell, every community a culture and history. And teachers play a primary […]
AC Bell
A.C. Bell is a North Carolina potter, originally from Chicago, IL. She studied biology in college and spent time working in a veterinary clinic and pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable urban development before discovering pottery in an evening class at a local Chicago neighborhood art center. She fell in love and began taking classes […]
Calling creative youth: make some mountain music and art this summer
The Mountaineer May 11, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council will bring the hills alive with music and visual arts during its youth Mountain Music and Arts Summer Camp July 24-28 held at the Waynesville Recreation Center. The camp focuses on cultivating youth creativity, exploring different artistic mediums, connecting to traditional Appalachian culture and making […]
Arts council to unveil downtown Cherokee mural
The Mountaineer May 5, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council will hold an opening reception for a Cherokee art exhibit and dedicate the new Cherokee-themed mural on Wall Street in downtown Waynesville during Art After Dark on Friday, May 5. The exhibit, “Renewing the Fire Through Education,” features work from Cherokee High School students and […]
Lori A. Reed
I am a contemporary artist with traditional roots. I enjoy all artwork, but have circled back to my roots in traditional Cherokee Arts. I have discovered a love for making baskets as I continue to learn about the history and the arts and crafts of my people. My grandmother was a basket maker and she […]
Help paint a new mural coming to downtown Waynesville
The Mountaineer by Eligiah Thornton April 19, 2023 Gather your brushes and artistic talent and come volunteer for the Haywood County Arts Council’s Cherokee Mural project this weekend, April 22 and 23, at the arts council headquarters in downtown Waynesville. The mural will adorn the back of the building, providing a colorful addition along Wall […]
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Effective date: 4/1/2023 Haywood County Arts Council (“us”, “we”, or “our”) operates https://haywoodarts.org (the “Service”). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. We use your data to provide and improve […]
Arts council raises the roof with traditional dance party
The Mountaineer April 12, 2023 Come one, come all and have a ‘hoot’ of a time at the Haywood County Arts Council Appalachian Dance Hootenanny from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Join the Haywood Ramblers on stage for a community jam with flat foot lessons by Tyler Hughes […]
The Fund for Haywood County issues grants to help people, beautify the area, boost revenue
WLOS News by Rex Hodge Fri, March 31st 2023 HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Ongoing efforts to improve many aspects of life in Haywood County just got a financial boost from a charitable organization. The aptly named The Fund for Haywood County has issued grants to help people, beautify the area and even boost revenues. This year, […]
Projects enhancing life in Haywood get a boost from Fund for Haywood County
The Mountaineer March 29, 2023 A plethora of projects and programs elevating the quality of life in Haywood County have gotten financial backing thanks to annual grants awarded by The Fund for Haywood County. More than a dozen grants totaling $64,900 will help nonprofits carry out projects benefiting the community — including WiFi hotspots for […]
Executive Director Announces Departure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Waynesville, NC – Morgan Beryl, the Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) Executive Director will leave the organization to relocate in May 2023. “Morgan’s energy, creativity and vision have brought a new vitality to the HCAC. We’ve been fortunate to have Morgan as Executive Director for the past 2 years and she will […]
Annual Report
View Our Most Recent Annual Report At the Haywood County Arts Council, we’re promoting artists in western North Carolina, building community, and laying the groundwork for future growth. 2022, our 45th anniversary, was a year of revitalization. Our team and the community led the organization through incredible change to our physical, financial and human infrastructure. […]
Amanda Cook
I am inspired by the beauty of nature and painting flowers feels like meditation. I love capturing the vibrant colors and perfect imperfection of every leaf and petal. The inability to fully control watercolor allows me to be present and constantly in awe of the magic it can create. After graduating with a BFA in […]
All aboard the Quilt Trail: businesses can claim their own quilt block
The Mountaineer March 14, 2023 Businesses interested in joining the Haywood County Quilt Trail can get a custom quilt block designed to display on their building. The Haywood County Arts Council is looking for 11 businesses who would like to be part of the quilt trail, a self-guided tour of more than three dozen colorful […]
Jeffrey Palmer
I’ve always sought creative outlets and upon retiring at the onset of the pandemic, I quickly opted to pursue a long-time goal of learning more about pottery. I have always possessed a respect for the diversity of expression that clay allows and wanted to take advantage of the amazing resources available here in western North […]
Annette Centofanti
I call the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina my forever home. I am originally from Western New York via many years in south Florida. I am inspired by color, textures, nature, facial expressions of human and animal muses. My favorite mediums are clay and mixed media paintings. Clay is an amazing medium to create […]
Quilt Trail Business Program
Lorelei Garnes, Owner of WNC Social Media Buzz Folkmoot USA, Crane Waynesville PD, Stars & Stripes & City Streets Maple Tree Veterinary Hospital, Paw Print UPDATE: Canton Businesses! Thanks to funding from the Cruso Endowment, HCAC is able to provide an additional three 32 x 32 quilt blocks for FREE to an additional three businesses […]
Cultivating creativity: Haywood artists receive support grants
Smoky Mountain News February 7, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), along with regional partners — including the Asheville Area Arts Council, Transylvania Community Arts Council, the Tryon Fine Arts Center, and the Arts Council of Henderson County — recently announced the 2022-2023 Artist Support Grant awardees. Grants were provided to 24 artists in Haywood, […]
‘Love’ for Haywood Arts
Smoky Mountain News February 7, 2023 This February, the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville is all about love — for your friends and family, for your animals, for yourself, and of course, for art. “We want to be part of our community’s celebration of this place and each other,” said Morgan Beryl, HCAC’s executive […]
Bethany Cullen
Haywood County has been home to my family for many generations. Being born and raised in Waynesville I was blessed to be able to be a product of the Central Elementary, Waynesville Middle School and Tuscola High School Art Departments where I had the best Art teachers I could ever have. I currently hold an […]
From murals to festivals, tourism dollars will liven up spring in Haywood
The Mountaineer By Vicki Hyatt January 28, 2023 Tourism leaders gave out $225,000 in their latest round of grant funding, including support for a number of new events and projects that locals and tourists alike can look forward to this spring. Among the events will be an antique car and truck show with a novel […]
Arts Council exhibit to showcase smorgasbord of 12 local artists
The Mountaineer January 30, 2023 A new exhibit opening at the Haywood County Arts Council Handmade Gallery in February debuts the work of 12 local artists who will be highlighted as featured artists each month of the year in 2023. An opening reception will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, with harp music […]
Janet Steinke
Janet moved to Waynesville a few years back from Michigan. A quilter for over 25 years, Janet has led a 475-member quilt guild in Grand Rapids, Michigan and helped establish a new quilt guild in Holland, Michigan. She became interested in the HCAC Quilt Trails Program both as a previous engineer and project management professional, […]
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Meet Artist Lauren Medford: HCAC Art and Gallery Manager
Rumble By Susanna Shetley January 18, 2023 Artist Lauren Medofrd was recently promoted to art and gallery manager with the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC). A native of Waynesville, Lauren holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in advertising and graphic design from Southwestern Community College and a Master of Fine Arts from Western Carolina University. […]
An Introduction to Green Infrastructure
Temboo By Madee Ku January 12, 2023 …. 2. Rain Garden in Waynesville, North Carolina A new rain garden was installed behind the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in western North Carolina in an area that was previously susceptible to being waterlogged during heavy rain events and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitos in warm […]
It’s time to jam! Learn mountain music with Junior Appalachian Musicians
The Mountaineer January 14, 2023 Celebrate Appalachian music and how it is passed along to young Haywood County musicians. An open house for the Junior Appalachian Musicians program will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center. “The open house is a great opportunity to meet the instructors, ask questions, […]
Open call for HCAC volunteers
Smoky Mountain News January 10, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) mission is to promote art, art education, and innovation in art. Located on Main Street in Waynesville, the HCAC Haywood Handmade Gallery is currently seeking volunteers to help keep the gallery open this winter. The gallery is open seven days a week, from […]
The power of rain gardens: collaborative project finds solution to downtown Waynesville run-off
The Mountaineer By Mary Jane Curry December 10, 2022 Benjamin Franklin’s proverb still holds true — “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In Western North Carolina, runoff from rain and snow is straining the infrastructure and damaging some local properties. Fortunately, there is a simple solution. It’s called a rain garden. […]
‘Small Works’ showcases art for all, even small spaces and small budgets
The Mountaineer November, 30 2022 An opening reception for Small Works, an art exhibit featuring handmade ornaments and eclectic wall art sized under 12 inches, will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville. Created by the Haywood County Arts Council, the exhibit features more than 40 […]
Kathy DeOrnellas
Tonya Harwood
I have lived in WNC for over 25 years. This place has my heart, and is why I continually paint the breathtaking landscapes all around us. When in my studio, I am always trying to recapture beauty, using photos taken while out in nature as reference; colorful reflections off of the lake, sunset from the […]
Great line-up to perform at Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival
The Mountaineer October, 27 2022 Get ready for a fine day of bluegrass Saturday, Oct. 29, during the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The day features Haywood County’s own bluegrass sensations, Balsam Range, plus Sister Sadie and the Amanda Cook Band. The festival, which is a fundraiser for the Haywood […]
Studio tour showcases the county artists
The Mountaineer By Vicki Hyatt September, 24 2022 For those who missed the Haywood County Studio Art Tour on Saturday, there’s still time to take the event in Sunday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. There are two dozen working art studios and galleries on the self-guided tour, giving tour goers a chance to […]
Arts Council ‘Meet the Makers’ event is Sept. 23
The Mountaineer September, 22 2022 Join an exclusive Night Before Studio Tour event from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, to meet and hear two Haywood Arts Council artists and Canton natives, Lisa Conard and Cheryl Summey, hosted by Canton’s Southern Porch. Event goers will enjoy food and drink provided by Southern Porch, plus paint a […]
Opening the doors of creativity: Haywood Arts Studio Tour to be held Sept. 24-25
Smoky Mountain News September 21, 2022 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. The tour is a two-day, self-guided, free event where Haywood County artists open their studios to the public. For 2022, the celebration will feature 24 studios and over 40 artists in various locations around our backyard. […]
Patricia Sweet
Pastoral Pottery From A True Believer
Asheville Made September 1, 2022 By Tom Kerr Article Waynesville ceramicist Laurey-Faye Dean grew up in a fundamentalist preacher’s family, around churchgoers who were true believers. Then, as a child, she found the Penland Book of Pottery – written by a community of potters from Penland, NC. “I realized that the people in the book […]
Hay Now Podcast: SEASON 1 EPISODE 17
Episode 17: Morgan Beryl August 30, 2022 Amie Newsome LISTEN NOW!
Rose Hardesty
Bio: Rose Hardesty is a visual artist who was born in Ventura, CA, and is currently living and working in Asheville, NC. She creates functional and sculptural wood fired ceramic pieces inspired by the natural world and informed by imagination. Her work seeks to marry seemingly disparate elements of the art and craft world, blurring […]