About Penland | Classes | Registration |  News/Events | Contact Us | Home

Fall/Spring Registration Information

Application, Deposits, & Fees
Penland welcomes serious students of all levels of experience—absolute beginner to professional. We seek a diverse student population representing varied experiences, backgrounds, professions, and age groups (minimum age 18). Some classes are tailored for beginners and some require experience; most welcome a range of skill levels. Admission is first-come/first-served unless noted otherwise in the course description.

A nonrefundable $45 processing fee is charged when you apply (you may apply for fall and spring with one application). A deposit of $500 per class is required ($250 for a one-week class). Applicants for work-study and studio assistantships pay a processing fee but no deposit at the time of registration. Registration is by mail or fax.

Cancellation & Refund Policy
If you cancel forty-five days or more before the beginning of a class, you will receive a refund minus a $250 cancellation fee ($100 for a one-week class). If you cancel later than forty-five days (thirty days for a one-week class) before the beginning of the class, there is no refund of tuition or room and board fees. This policy also applies to work-study scholarship students. If it is necessary for Penland to cancel a class, students will be notified and offered another class or a full refund. We cannot be responsible for nonrefundable airline tickets.

Waiting Lists
Waiting lists are maintained for all filled classes. Any applicant for a full class will be placed on the waiting list. No deposit (other than the $45 processing fee) is necessary to hold a space on the waiting list.

Accessibility
Penland’s terrain is steep and uneven. We are striving to make our campus more accessible, and we have several units of housing which conform to the ADA. If you have a mobility impairment, please contact us. Textile classes are taught in second- and third-floor walkup studios.

Cost of Materials
Tuition does not cover the cost of materials used for students’ own production (hot glass tuition does cover glass in the furnaces). Many materials and tools can be purchased through the school. Most classes also require that you bring certain materials and tools with you. There will be a fee for supplies used by the group, and some classes incur a hazardous waste disposal fee. We will make every effort to notify students in advance if a studio fee in excess of $50 is anticipated. Look for this information with your class materials list.

Studio Safety
Students should be aware that in many classes they may be working with tools which, if improperly used, can cause injury. A safety tour and information about the proper handling of relevant tools and materials is part of our classes, however, students assume the risk of working with tools and materials provided by the school.

Studio Information
Detailed information about Penland’s studios is available here.

Scholarships

Work-Study
Work-study scholarships help make Penland available to a wider range of students. Work-study students receive room, board, and a discounted tuition. Full work-study students work 20–25 hours per week on a variety of tasks—principally in food service and dishwashing. Partial work-study students work approximately 10 hours per week. (No full work-study in glass.) Most positions involve physical labor, but there are a few which can accommodate physical limitations. If you have physical limitations, please send a separate note explaining what kinds of work you are able to do. This will not factor into selection, but will help us with assignments. In addition to regular duties, work-study students are required to work from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the day before and the day after their session. If you cannot meet this requirement, do not apply.

Your letter should be no longer than two pages and should address the following:

  • Financial need: why attending Penland would be a financial hardship for you.
  • Seriousness of intent: your background and experience in craft, if any (prior experience in craft is not a requirement). The individual artistic goals that you hope to pursue in each of the classes you are applying for.
  • Work ethic: work-study students have an experience which is different from yet equally valuable to that of regular students. Do you feel you will benefit from balancing studio work with physical labor for the school?

You will also need to supply a résumé and two letters of reference which address your work ethic and your commitment to learning.

There is one full work-study position for a movement instructor who will also do gardening and administrative work. Your letter and résumé should address your qualification to teach movement.

Please do not apply for work-study if you are applying as a full-paying student. If you are not selected for work-study, you will have the opportunity to re-apply as a full-paying student (some classes may be full at that time). Work-study applications must be received by August 4, 2008 for fall and October 13, 2008 for spring. After the deadline, applicants will be considered only in the event of cancellations. Work-study students will be notified by August 18 for fall and November 3 for spring, and once accepted will be asked to submit full payment.

Special Work-Study
These endowed funds each provide one fully funded work-study scholarship covering room, board, and full tuition. The deadline for these scholarships is August 4, 2008 whether you are applying for fall or spring. If you are selected, you will be asked to make a $475 deposit, which will be returned when your work commitment is fulfilled.

Samuel A. Almon Scholarship
Established in honor of Samuel Almon, who was a lawyer and a friend of the school, this fund provides a fully-funded work-study scholarship for a textiles Concentration. Applicants should submit five printed images of their work (no slides, no CDs, maximum size 8-1/2 x 11). This scholarship requires the student to contribute a piece made during the session to the scholarship auction.

Christy Wright Scholarship for Glass Art
Established by the family and friends of Christy Wright, this fund provides a fully-funded work-study glass Concentration scholarship for a student making a career transition into glass. Applicants should submit five printed images of their work (no slides, no CDs, maximum size 8-1/2 x 11) and a letter explaining their qualification for this scholarship.

Studio Assistants
Studio assistants are students who assist instructors and fellow students and are responsible for maintaining the school’s standards for studio operation. In exchange for 25–40 hours of work per week, assistants receive room, board, and tuition. Most Concentration instructors recommend their own assistant. Studio assistants must send a resume, two letters of reference and five images of their work along with their application. Applications for studio assistantships are due on August 4, 2008 for fall and October 13, 2008 for spring. Available fall studio assistantships are listed at the top of the fall program pages. Available spring assistantships will be listed soon.

Policies

College & Teacher Credits
Undergraduate and graduate credit may be earned at Penland through Western Carolina University. Charges for credit ($100 per undergraduate credit; $125 per graduate credit) are in addition to Penland’s fees. A certificate of course completion is available. Teachers interested in receiving Public Education Certificate renewal credits should contact their school board.

Arrival & Departure
Penland is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Spruce Pine, NC, 53 miles northeast of Asheville. The easiest way to get here is by car, but van service is available from the Asheville airport and bus terminal at the beginning and end of each session for a fee. Plan to arrive at Penland before 5:00 pm on Sunday (work-study and studio assistants arrive a day earlier). Sessions end on Friday at noon. Plan to leave no later than the following morning (work-study and studio assistants stay a day later).

Penland School of Crafts is a national center for craft education dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Founded by Lucy Morgan in 1929, the school was originally an outgrowth of a craft-based economic development project Morgan had started several years earlier. Located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Penland encompasses about 400 acres and 49 buildings; more than 1,200 people come each year seeking instruction in twelve media. The school offers one- and two-week classes in the summer and one- and eight-week classes in the spring and fall. In addition to classes, Penland offers artist residencies, a community education program, and a gallery that welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

The school’s workshop programs combine superb instruction by practicing craftspeople, exposure to other media, excellent food, a secluded and inspiring physical setting, and a collaborative, community atmosphere. At Penland, students and instructors are encouraged to experiment, think, and play; it is a place where people often exceed their own expectations. Penland’s programs are based on the belief that exploring materials and working intently with the hands has the power to change lives.

Life at Penland
Each class is structured by the teacher, but most are a mix of demonstrations, lectures, individual studio work, and field trips. A stay at Penland also offers evening slide shows, the beautiful Penland Gallery, a reading room, visits to nearby studios, volleyball games, dances, and walks in the countryside.

An on-campus coffee house provides hot and cold drinks, snacks, Internet access, and a place to meet and converse. The school supply store features a variety of hand tools and craft materials along with UPS shipping, books, postcards, film, snacks, drinks, and other items. Wireless Internet hotspots are located around the campus. Verizon cell phones work well here; other cell phones may or may not work. The nearest medical facility is the Spruce Pine Hospital, located ten miles away.

Students live at Penland and may participate in activities on a twenty-four-hour basis. Housing is simple but adequate. (We only house Penland students.) The dining room provides three delicious meals each day. There are always choices for vegetarians, but we cannot accommodate special dietary needs.

What can you expect from time spent at Penland? You can expect to work hard, learn a lot, and make friends in an isolated setting without the distraction of phones, television, or newspapers. You can expect to have fun, eat well, and get the kind of energy that comes from immersion in something you love.

Penland accepts students regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation.