About the Arkansas Craft School
Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Arkansas Craft School, located in Mountain View, Arkansas, is a 501.c.3 educational corporation. The School grew out of a long range planning process of the Arkansas Craft Guild which indicated a need to provide a training and support system for new and young artisans and practicing artisans in the state of Arkansas. Hand made craft, in its many forms, is a primary industry throughout the state and especially in the Ozark region. The 2007-2008 study commissioned and funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation indentified the creative economy as the third largest industrial-business complex in Arkansas. The work force of that complex requires specialized training of artistic and industrial artisans. The Arkansas Craft School is designed to provide a comprehensive program of specialized vocational training.
The Mission of the Arkansas Craft School is to educate aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the creative economy.
The Program Focus of the Arkansas Craft School is clearly the student who is, vocationally, a practicing artisan or a student artisan who plans to enter a craft-based vocation.
The Artistic Focus of the Arkansas Craft School is traditional and contem-porary two and three dimensional arts and crafts, including forms in metal, clay/ceramics, fiber, wood, glass, and other media.
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Course Offerings
- Skill and technical studies in the five basic craft media- glass, wood, fiber, metal,
and clay/ceramics. Courses are offered at three levels: Introductory for students
interested in developing the philosophical, technical, and skill basics for a particular media, including the operation and maintenance of equipment used in the media; Intermediate for students who are interested in developing and applying the skills necessary to producing a quality product; and Advanced for students who are ready to work in the formation and creation of product design - Ancillary and foundational skills used in the creation of craft - drawing, painting, design, and maintenance of production quality
- Marketing of craft
- Business management of the small craft business
Click here for information on specific courses.
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Faculty
- Local practicing artisans who have college level degrees in their craft and/or have been recognized as a master craftsperson in their field.
- Nationally known instructors who have been recognized for their work in design and the advancement of contemporary craft.
- Marketing and small business instructors who both understand and can relate to the needs of the practicing artisan and the mentality of the creative artisan.
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Partners
- The Arkansas Craft School is the educational arm of the Arkansas Craft Guild which has provided the School with a long history of quality craft production in the state.
- Ozarka College provides accreditation for continuing education and guidance in curriculum design. The College offers an Associate of Arts and a Certificate of
Proficiency in Entrepreneurship for Artisans. Craft School courses may be used in the folio requirement of the two programs. - Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View provides teaching studio space, student lodging, and food services.
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Values & Guiding Principles
We believe that art is the soul and spirit of culture.
We believe that a successful school is a supportive community.
We believe that a primary purpose of our work is to develop self-reliance among our students.
We believe that the life and success of the Arkansas Craft School depends on ethical behavior and integrity.
We believe that the focus of the Arkansas Craft School is first and foremost our students and program participants.
We believe that the bedrock of our success is our faculty and volunteers.
We believe that teamwork and trust among all participants in the leadership of the School is essential.
We believe that our donors should feel a personal ownership of the School.
We believe that the Arkansas Craft School should encourage quality innovation.
We believe that collaboration is essential to the task of preserving and promoting art and craft in Arkansas.
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Board of Directors
Joe Doster (President) – Technology Faculty, North Arkansas College, Harrison, Arkansas – wood artist
Mike DeLong (Vice President) –Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Ozarka College
Mike Luster (Secretary) – Director, Arkansas Folk Life Program
Pat Cash (Treasurer) – Vice President, Citizens Bank of Mountain View and owner of Cash’s White River Hoedown and Aunt Minnie’s Little Yellow House
Leo Sutterfield (Chair Finance) – President, First Service Bank of Mountain View
Gin Brown (Chair Program/Curriculum)– Campus Coordinator, Ozarka College, Mountain View
Cheri McKee-McSwain (Chair Personnel) – Instructor, Arts and Humanities at Ozarka College
Virginia Annett - Former adjunct professor concentrarting on Special Education issues.Currently serves on the Boards of the following organizations: "Olde Main Street Arts Center", "Applied Arts, Inc.", "Michael Annett and Associates" and is Educational Consultant for "Friends of the Kaw". Clay artist.
Jane Parker - former professor of Anthropology at UACCB and current Board member of the Ozark Foothills Film Festival. Fiber artist.
Fran Hatley - retired teacher, working primarily with children with special needs. Watercolorist.
Terri Van Orman (Executive Director) – Fiber Artist; Former Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center
Grady Spann (Ex Officio) – General Manager, Ozark Folk Center State Park
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Executive Director
Terri Van Orman– Fiber Artist; Former Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center
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