Focus on Fine Craft
The Focus on Fine Craft Field Trip Program serves high school students throughout Tennessee. The program takes place in professionally equipped studios on the campus of the Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, Tennessee. Students who attend the field trip program participate in hands-on craft activities and learn techniques and equipment used by real working artists in glass, clay, wood, fibers, and metals studios. Each year, ACC hosts an exhibition of student and teacher work selected from field trip participants.
Sign up for a Field Trip
Sessions are scheduled on Fridays throughout the fall and spring semesters. Each session begins in the morning, lasts three hours and includes an orientation, tour, and workshop. Up to ten students may sign up for each studio. Teachers should assign students to studios prior to arrival. Following the workshops, students and teachers are invited to bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy it in our cafe dining hall before departing.
$20 per student and release forms are due upon arrival.
Adult RELEASE FORM Minor RELEASE FORM
2026 & 2027 Field Trip Dates
Fall 2026
Aug. 28
Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 25
Oct. 2
Oct. 9
Oct. 30
Nov. 6
Nov. 13
Dec. 4
Spring 2027
Jan. 22
Jan. 29
Feb. 5
Feb. 12
Feb. 19
Feb. 26
March 5
March 12
April 9
April 16
April 23
Program Policy
- This program is open to Tennessee high school students in 9th - 12th grade
- There must be one chaperone for each workshop group and the chaperone must stay in that workshop for its entirety.
- Each attendee, including students, teachers, and chaperones, must provide a completed Indemnification and Photo Release upon arrival. Please download the forms from the links below. Students without completed forms will not be allowed to participate.
- All participants must wear closed-toe shoes and tie back long hair. We recommend wearing clothing that can get dirty or stained.
Student Ticket Subsidy
This program is eligible for a Student Ticket Subsidy (STS) Grant through the Tennessee Arts Commission. Awards are made directly to schools and cover registration fees and transportation to the program, with awards up to $3,000. To apply for a STS Grant, visit the Tennessee Arts Commission website.
Focus on Fine Craft Annual Exhibition
Each year, Focus on Fine Craft Field Trip participants and their teachers are selected to participate in a juried exhibition at the Appalachian Center for Craft’s Hilltop Gallery. The public is invited to view the exhibition in-person and online. Visit the 2026 Focus on Fine Craft Exhibition digital showcase below and view the Focus on Fine Craft Catalogue to learn more about ACC’s programming for Tennessee youth and educators.
The 2027 Focus on Fine Craft Exhibition dates will be announced soon.
Digital Gallery
Click here to view the entire exhibition
Special thanks to the Tennessee Arts Commission and Windgate
This program is supported by the Student Ticket Subsidy Grant through the Tennessee Arts Commission and Windgate. You can help support the Tennessee Arts Commission through the Specialty License Plate Program.
