Folk Art Center

The Folk Art Center is a museum of Appalachian folk art and crafts located at milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina. Opened in 1980, it operates as a cooperative effort between the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the National Park Service, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. The institution also houses offices for three separate Parkway partners: the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the National Park Service, and Eastern National. As the most popular attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the center draws a quarter of a million visitors annually. Admission to the public is free.

The Folk Art Center opened to the public at its current location in 1980. It was established as a cooperative effort among the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the National Park Service, and the Appalachian Regional Commission to serve as a dedicated space for Appalachian craft and culture along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The museum focuses on Appalachian folk art and crafts, reflecting the traditional and contemporary material culture of the Southern Highlands. The center serves as the primary exhibition venue for the Southern Highland Craft Guild, showcasing the work of artisans from the Appalachian region.

The center is situated at milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina. The facility contains three galleries, a library, and an auditorium. It also accommodates the Eastern National bookstore and information center within the building.

The Folk Art Center is located near Asheville, North Carolina, and is accessible directly from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It operates as the most popular attraction on the Parkway, receiving approximately 250,000 visitors per year. Admission to the museum is free, and the facility is managed through the ongoing partnership of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the National Park Service, and the Appalachian Regional Commission.