The Executive Committee of the Arrowmont Board of Governors has appointed the task force that will explore the future options for the nationally renowned arts education center. The group will examine the viability of remaining in the Gatlinburg area or relocating to other proposed sites in Knoxville or Greeneville, Tennessee.
Arrowmont Board President Mary Ann Hruska announced the appointment of the task force which will be chaired by board member Bill May. May is a glass artist, the owner of May Studios and long time resident of Sevier County. Serving with May on the task force are fellow board members Bob Alcorn, an architect; Susan Knowles, an independent art curator and writer; Marcia Goldenstein, a university artfaculty member and business executive Jim Samples. In addition to these board members, five members of Arrowmont’s senior staff will serve on the task force. They include David Willard, Executive Director; Bill Griffith, Director of Programs, Julia Clinton, Director of Finance; Dick Baker, Director of Development & Communications and Steve Reilly, Director of Facilities.
In creating the task force the Executive Committee strived to have a group of its members that represents each of the major areas to be explored, including programs, infrastructure needs, community support and financial structure in addition to having support and input from senior staff. In moving forward with the next steps, each community under consideration will be presented with the same outline of the school’s needs and expectations.
Task force chair Bill May said that a preliminary meeting schedule with officials and committees representing Gatlinburg, Greeneville and Knoxville has been determined and is awaiting confirmation to finalize the group’s travel plans. “I believe it is imperative that the steps in this evaluation/selection process be conducted with transparency and consistency.” May stated the goal is to meet with the respective group from each city before the end of April. The task force is scheduled to present their findings and recommendations to the full Board of Governors at their meeting in mid-May. Arrowmont’s Board of Governors has stated that the two guiding factors for the future of the institution have always been and continue to be 1) land ownership and 2) the level of support and sustainability the surrounding community can offer Arrowmont.
