Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts post-fire. Photo credit: Bill May, Executive Director
If you've been following the news, many parts of East Tennessee have suffered from a severe drought and forest fires. Many of our beautiful areas of Tennessee have been devastated by fires, including Gatlinburg, TN, home of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Despite raging fires in the area, most of Arrowmont's iconic campus was not lost. While the whole of Gatlinburg is evacuated except for emergency personnel, Arrowmont Executive Director, Bill May has confirmed that the campus is safe.
The fire destroyed three Arrowmont buildings, Hughes Hall Dormitory, Wild Wing Dormitory and the maintenance shed. Smoke and heat damage has not yet been assessed.
"All Arrowmont personnel are safe," says Bill May (via email), "We have received many emails, phone calls, texts and social media posts expressing support and concern for Arrowmont and for the people in our community who have suffered loss. We are grateful for our local and national community and the outpouring of support. Hope is not lost. We will rebuild." Bill May is appointing a recovery team to assess damage and plan for the rebuilding of lost structures.
Arrowmont has received numerous requests regarding donations to support the recovery. To make a secure donation online, go to www.arrowmont.org and click the “donate” button. Send checks to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, P.O. Box 567, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 37738.