About us
Celebrating Yesterday, Inspiring Tomorrow
The Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society is a non-profit organization established by dedicated community members with a shared passion for the Appalachian spirit and the irreplaceable assets of our local culture. We operate as a collective memory keeper and a catalyst for creative engagement, focusing our efforts on the comprehensive preservation of historical documents, photographs, oral histories, and traditional craft forms that define Grainger County. Our mandate extends beyond mere archiving; we actively use these resources to create educational programming, public exhibitions, and engaging workshops that bring history and art out of the boxes and into the hands and minds of our community. This deep commitment ensures that Grainger County’s narrative is not just remembered, but actively lived and shared, fostering a powerful sense of identity and pride among residents of all ages.
Our Story
From a Shared Vision to a Thriving Cultural Hub
The Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society was founded from humble beginnings in the late 1990s, when a small group of civic-minded historians, educators, and artists began meeting in a borrowed space to discuss their collective concern: the rapid loss of local knowledge and traditional skills. They recognized that while individual memories and beautiful artifacts still existed, there was no central, structured organization responsible for their preservation and active transmission. This initial vision quickly solidified into a formal non-profit endeavor, driven by the belief that a community without a palpable connection to its past is a community adrift. The founders pooled their personal collections, secured their first dedicated space through generous community donations, and set a course to document every facet of Grainger County life, creating a beacon for cultural continuity that has grown exponentially ever since.
What We Do
Activating Arts and Heritage Across Grainger County
The core mission of the Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society is realized through a diverse and robust program overview that strategically balances preservation with active engagement. We maintain a dynamic calendar that features quarterly rotating historical exhibitions, showcasing everything from Civil War artifacts recovered locally to the evolution of farming techniques in the Holston River Valley. Concurrently, we host a continuous series of arts workshops, covering disciplines vital to Appalachian culture, such as basket weaving, natural dyeing, old-time music instrument construction, and ballad singing, ensuring these practical skills are transferred to the next generation. These twin-pillar programs—historical exhibit and artistic instruction—work synergistically to provide a complete picture of the county’s identity, encouraging participants to not only observe the past but also to actively recreate and contribute to the present culture.
Connect with the Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society
We are always eager to hear from the community, researchers, and anyone interested in the rich arts and heritage of Grainger County, and we provide several convenient ways to get in touch. For general inquiries, questions about our collections, or requests for information regarding a specific workshop, the fastest way to reach us is via email at info@gcahs.lat, and a staff member will typically respond within one business day. If your inquiry is time-sensitive or relates to scheduling a research appointment or a group tour, please feel free to call us directly at a dedicated phone number, which is also posted clearly at our physical location during business hours. We value personal interaction and strive to ensure all correspondence is handled with warmth, professionalism, and prompt attention to detail.
Full Contact Details
For complete clarity, please use the following detailed information for any official correspondence or outreach.
Organization Name: Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society
Mailing Address (Official): PO BOX 101, RUTLEDGE, TN 37861
Email Address (General Inquiries): info@gcahs.lat
Join Us/Work With Us
Be a Part of the Grainger County Arts and Heritage Team
The Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society offers rewarding career opportunities for individuals who are passionate about non-profit management, Appalachian culture, history, and the arts, serving as a dynamic platform for professional growth and community service. While our team is small and highly dedicated, we occasionally seek to fill key roles in areas such as archival management, educational program development, fundraising coordination, and administrative support. We look for candidates who possess relevant academic qualifications—such as degrees in history, library science, museum studies, or non-profit administration—coupled with an authentic enthusiasm for serving the Grainger County community and a proven track record of professional integrity and collaborative work ethic. Working with us is more than just a job; it is a vocation dedicated to preserving an irreplaceable regional legacy.
Application Process
Career Opportunities
Interested applicants for any posted career opportunity are invited to submit their materials via email to the address specified in the job posting, ensuring all required documents, typically including a detailed cover letter and a current resume or CV, are attached as a single PDF document. Your cover letter should clearly articulate your relevant experience, your specific interest in Appalachian arts and heritage, and how your personal commitment aligns with the Society’s mission. After an initial review, qualified candidates will be contacted for a multi-stage interview process, which may include a portfolio review or a brief demonstration of skills relevant to the position, such as a presentation on a historical topic or a display of archival cataloging knowledge. We maintain a fair and transparent hiring process, seeking individuals who are ready to dedicate their talents to the stewardship of our county’s invaluable cultural assets.