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 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 

“If you’ve ever been in our gallery, you’ve met one of our volunteers, as the gallery is 100 percent volunteer run” said HCAC Executive Director Morgan Beryl.

“The gallery features the artwork of our membership in themed exhibitions, the Haywood Handmade line which is a line of HCAC-inspired, handmade items and a selection of member made jewelry, pottery, cards, scarves, and more,” added HCAC Board Member and Gallery Committee Chair Emily Reason.

HCAC artists who display their products in the gallery volunteer at least one day a month, but many volunteers are community members who are looking for a way to give to the arts.

Volunteer shifts are split between morning and afternoon, and come with a variety of responsibilities including learning about HCAC artist members and their work and sharing this unique information with visitors to the gallery. 

“It’s both fun and important to educate gallery visitors. People are often much more engaged when they learn that everything we show is locally made. Not only does the gallery provide a well-trafficked venue for showing art, it enables us to spread the word about other programs HCAC has to offer” Reason said. 

Other volunteer tasks include basic opening and closing activities like turning on the lights or turning down the heat, helping keep the gallery clean by sweeping and dusting, and processing sales.

For more information and/or to sign up to volunteer, click on haywoodarts.org/volunteer.