Emerging artists reshape a legacy institution in Appalachia
For nearly a century, the Southern Highland Craft Guild has stood as a cornerstone of Appalachian craft — a place where tradition is preserved, practiced, and passed down. But even institutions rooted in history must evolve. This spring, the Guild’s Emerging Artist Program (EAP) offers a glimpse into that evolution, introducing 10 early-career makers whose work reflects both the region’s heritage and its future.
Now in its third year and newly established as a permanent program, the initiative brings together artists working across media — from clay and glass to fiber and leather — and across lived experiences. Among them are a quilter exploring Appalachian infrastructure, a glassblower continuing her practice after a life-altering studio accident, and a former social worker who found a second career in woodworking.
Selected through a competitive juried process, these artists receive mentorship, marketing support, and the opportunity to exhibit at the Guild’s flagship event, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands this July in Asheville. The program is not membership, but a deliberate pathway toward it.
“The goal of the EAP is to give these artists access to resources they need to develop skills for selling and advancing their work,” Elizabeth Walton, the Guild’s outreach director, says in a press release. “The program has also been created to better connect the Guild with voices we want to see amplified in the organization’s future.”
The Spring 2026 cohort includes several artists working close to home in Western North Carolina: Toryn Davis Black (wood, Asheville), Kevin Duckett (leatherwork, Sandy Mush), Anna Rose Garrett (printmaking/paper, Andrews), Samuel Harley (clay, Asheville), and Jasmine Steinacker (glass, Asheville).
For more information, see southernhighlandguild.org.