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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

‘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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

Student Art Showcased at Arts Council

The Mountaineer By Sinclaire Carr July 6, 2022 Jul. 6—The WNC Student Artist Exhibit will run through July 31 at the Haywood County Arts Council. “Involving youth in art and encouraging art education is a main component of our mission,” said Morgan Beryl, HCAC executive director. College students from throughout Western North Carolina were invited […]

Haywood Art Council’s First Pride Event

Blue Ridge Pride By Butch Thompson July 1, 2022 Haywood County Arts Council hosted their ‘Meet the Makers’, part of their first Pride month event. Blue Ridge Pride Center supported, in part, the event through our Community Partner Fund. Working with such groups allows us to help in a small way but more importantly it provides us an […]

‘Living with Pride’

Smoky Mountain News By Hannah McLeod For the first time in its 45-year history, the Haywood County Arts Council is celebrating Pride month with its ‘Living with Pride’ exhibit, a collaboration with Waynesville’s own Curatory Gallery.  “We want the arts council to be a safe place for people of all backgrounds and all ages. We […]

Donor Rights Policy

The Arts Council recognizes that truthfulness, donor confidentiality, and responsible stewardship are the foundations of nonprofit fundraising and has created the following policy to guide fundraising efforts. HAYWOOD COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL DONOR RIGHTS POLICY A. Donor SolicitationsB. Acceptance of ContributionsC. Donor Information and Records By law, we are required to  make Form 990 available to […]