Haywood County Arts Council Acquires Permanent Home in Downtown Waynesville
Haywood County Arts Council Acquires Permanent Home in Downtown Waynesville
Historic 196 N. Main Street Building Will Become a New Arts Center for Haywood County
WAYNESVILLE, NC — September 2026 — After nearly 50 years of serving the community, the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) has a permanent home.
On Friday, September 4, 2026, the Haywood County Arts Council officially closed on the purchase of 196 N. Main Street in downtown Waynesville, marking an exciting new chapter for the organization and for the arts in Haywood County.
The purchase was made possible by an extraordinarily generous anonymous donor, allowing HCAC to acquire the building debt-free.
“This is bigger than anything the Arts Council has ever received in our nearly 50-year history,” said Tonya Harwood, Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council. “I am overwhelmed by this incredible gift and by the generosity and belief in the arts that it represents. This donor has given us an opportunity that we could never have created on our own.”
A Year-Long Search Leads to a Permanent Home
For the past year, HCAC has been searching for a permanent home—one that could accommodate its growing programs, provide more opportunities for local artists, and ultimately become a true arts center for the community.
When the building at 196 N. Main Street became available, it immediately caught the Arts Council’s attention. The building, formerly home to Sassafras Toy Store and, before that, Cedar Hill Gallery, already has a history of bringing creativity and community together.
“When we first looked at the building, it seemed like such a huge space,” Harwood said. “But the more we thought about it, the more we realized that this is exactly what we need—a space we can really grow into. It gives us room to dream about what the Haywood County Arts Council can become and what an arts center can mean for our county.”
The approximately 17,400-square-foot, three-story building will give HCAC the opportunity to bring many of its programs and services together under one roof.
A New Arts Center for Haywood County
The future arts center is envisioned as a place where people can see art, make art, learn, gather, and connect.
Planned uses for the building include:
Gallery exhibition spaces showcasing local and regional artists
A second-hand art supply store, providing affordable creative materials to the community
The Quilt Block Painting Studio
Classrooms and workshop space for arts education and hands-on creative experiences
Community space for gatherings
A lending library for HCAC artist members
Affordable artist studios on the top floor, providing artists with dedicated space to create and work
The additional space will allow HCAC to expand its programming, support more artists, offer new educational opportunities, and create a place where community members of all ages and abilities can engage with the arts.
“This building gives us possibilities we simply haven't had before,” Harwood said. “We can imagine programs and opportunities that weren't possible because we didn't have the space. Now we can start thinking about what is possible.”
Elevate the Arts: Making the Building Accessible to Everyone
While the purchase of the building is a tremendous milestone, HCAC knows there is still important work ahead.
One of the Arts Council's highest priorities is ensuring that the building is fully accessible to people of all abilities. The existing elevator is no longer operational and will need to be rebuilt to provide access to all three floors.
HCAC also plans to make improvements to the building's stairways to provide fire-safe routes throughout the building, as well as add skylights to the top floor to bring natural light into the future affordable artist studios.
To help make these improvements possible, HCAC has launched its Elevate the Arts capital campaign.
“We don't just want to own a building,” Harwood said. “We want to create a place that truly belongs to the community—a place that is welcoming and accessible to everyone. That's why the next phase is so important. We want to make sure people of all abilities can experience everything this building has to offer.”
Community members, businesses, and supporters of the arts are invited to be part of this next chapter by contributing to the Elevate the Arts campaign.
Learn more and support the campaign:
Elevate the Arts – HCAC Capital Campaign
A Historic Moment for HCAC
The purchase of 196 N. Main Street marks an exciting new chapter for the Haywood County Arts Council as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027. The permanent home will provide space to expand programs, support artists, and create new opportunities for the community to experience and participate in the arts.
“This is a really big moment for the Haywood County Arts Council,” Harwood said. “For nearly 50 years, we've been working to bring the arts to our community. Now, we have the opportunity to create a permanent home and a true arts center for Haywood County.”
“We are incredibly grateful to our anonymous donor, to the people who have supported the Arts Council over the years, and to everyone in this community who has believed in what we do. This building is the beginning of something new, and we are excited to see what we can create here together.”
About the Haywood County Arts Council
Founded in 1977, the Haywood County Arts Council supports artists and provides arts education, exhibitions, programs, and opportunities for the community to engage with the arts.
For more information, visit haywoodarts.org or follow the Haywood County Arts Council on social media.
Elevate the Arts (In-Progress): https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lp9x9wPDgKxfg539A
5th Annual Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival Announces 2026 Lineup
5th Annual Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival Announces 2026 LineupOctober 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Maggie Valley Fairgrounds
WAYNESVILLE, NC — The Haywood County Arts Council is proud to announce the full artist lineup for the 5th Annual Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival, returning to the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Hosted annually by the Haywood County Arts Council, the festival has become a signature regional event and a meaningful way to celebrate the arts with the community while raising critical funds to help sustain HCAC’s gallery operations and year-round programs. Now in its fifth year, the festival continues to grow in popularity, regularly welcoming more than 1,000 guests for a full day of live music, community connection, and Appalachian tradition.
The 2026 lineup showcases an exciting mix of rising stars and award-winning favorites. Opening the day is Virginia-based artist Olivia Jo, whose debut single in 2022 quickly launched her onto national charts including Bluegrass Today, The Roots Music Report, Cashbox, and The Bluegrass Jamboree. Known for her authentic songwriting and fresh energy, Olivia Jo continues to build momentum with original music that resonates with audiences nationwide.
Next to take the stage is Unspoken Tradition, a fast-rising voice in contemporary bluegrass rooted in Western and Central North Carolina. Known for original material that reflects the evolving culture of the region, the band has performed to sold-out crowds at venues like The Station Inn in Nashville and on MerleFest’s Watson Stage. Their releases, including Simple Little Town and Miles Between, have received national airplay and NPR recognition. As band member Ty Gilpin shares, “We’re so excited to return to this festival in the heart of our own western North Carolina home. Maggie Valley has such a rich history of supporting Bluegrass music and the setting of the mountains in the midst of the fall foliage is unbeatable. This is a festival people come from all over the country to attend. We’re so privileged to be a part this year.”
Red Camel Collective brings award-winning talent to the festival stage, featuring Johnathan Dillon, Curt Love, Heather Berry Mabe, and Tony Mabe—four multi-instrumentalists also known for their work with the Junior Sisk Band. Named IBMA’s New Artist of the Year in 2025, with Heather Berry Mabe earning IBMA Momentum Vocalist of the Year in 2024, the group blends seasoned musicianship with a powerful modern bluegrass sensibility.
A festival favorite, Appalachian Road Show returns by popular demand, reimagining traditional Americana and Appalachian music with striking originality. Featuring GRAMMY-nominated banjoist Barry Abernathy, GRAMMY-winning fiddler Jim VanCleve, acclaimed mandolinist Darrell Webb, and guitarist Zeb Snyder, the ensemble is known for dynamic performances and a masterful blend of tradition and innovation.
Closing out the festival is hometown favorite Balsam Range, one of the most decorated bands in bluegrass music today. The group—Buddy Melton, Marc Pruett, Tim Surrett, Caleb Smith, and Alan Bibey—has earned 13 IBMA awards, including Entertainer of the Year, and has topped Billboard bluegrass charts multiple times. Named for the majestic mountains surrounding their Haywood County home, Balsam Range is celebrated for rich harmonies, world-class musicianship, and a deep connection to Appalachian tradition. Band member Tim Surrett reflects, “There isn’t a much prettier place than Maggie Valley in the fall. I think we’ve played just about every one of these, and we don’t take it lightly to be invited back. This arts council is so important, and we love supporting their mission and being part of such an outstanding fundraising event.”
Event Details: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Maggie Valley Fairgrounds | Presented by the Haywood County Arts Council. Early bird tickets are available now for $55 through August 30, after which tickets will be $65. The Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival continues to be a wonderful celebration of Appalachian music and culture, bringing together nationally recognized artists and local audiences in a shared experience of live music and community while supporting the mission of the Haywood County Arts Council through funding its gallery, educational initiatives, and year-round arts programming. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Haywood County Arts Council or contact director@haywoodarts.org. For more information and tickets, visit https://haywoodarts.org/smoky-mountains-bluegrass-festival/
Haywood County Arts Council Opens Applications for 2026–2027 Grassroots Arts Program Grants
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will begin accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) Grants on August 3, 2026. Eligible nonprofit organizations in Haywood County that provide arts programming are invited to apply. Applications will be accepted through August 31, 2026. Please note that these grants are available to organizations only and are not open to individual artists.
Established by the North Carolina Arts Council in 1977, the Grassroots Arts Program provides funding to strengthen local arts efforts and expand access to the arts across the state. In Haywood County, the program is administered by the Haywood County Arts Council through funding from the North Carolina Arts Council. The Grassroots Arts Program helps nonprofit organizations provide meaningful arts experiences that enrich the quality of life in Haywood County. Individual grant awards typically range from $500 to $5,000.
"The Grassroots Arts Program is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the organizations that bring arts experiences to Haywood County," said Tonya Harwood, Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council. "These grants help nonprofits offer concerts, performances, exhibitions, classes, and other creative programs that bring our community together, inspire creativity, and make the arts accessible to people of all ages."
Grant funds may be used to support a variety of arts-related activities and organizational needs. Eligible expenses include artist and performer fees, exhibitions, concerts, marketing and promotional materials, equipment rentals, and other program costs. Funding may also assist with general operating expenses such as rent, utilities, staff salaries, office supplies, insurance, and modest capital improvements.
In 2025, HCAC awarded $21,645 in Grassroots funding to 10 Haywood County nonprofit organizations providing arts programming throughout the community.
Grant recipients are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match equal to the amount awarded. Documentation of matching funds must be included in the organization's final grant report.
Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel based on the following criteria:
Artistic quality of the proposed project or program
Community impact and public benefit
Project feasibility
Organizational stability and fiscal responsibility
Applications open August 3 and must be submitted by August 31, 2026. Award notifications will be made in late September, with grant funds distributed in October. Funded activities must be completed by June 30, 2027.
For application guidelines, eligibility requirements, and the online application, visit: