Our Mission
The Guiding Principles That Define Our Purpose
Welcome to the homepage of the Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society. We are a dedicated group of individuals who are passionate about preserving and promoting the rich arts and heritage of Grainger County. Our society is committed to showcasing the unique culture, history, and artistic talent that our county has to offer. We organize various events, exhibitions, and workshops that aim to educate and inspire our community. Join us in our mission to celebrate and uphold the vibrant arts and heritage of Grainger County. This powerful statement of purpose drives every initiative, every preservation effort, and every educational program we undertake, establishing the Society as the foremost organization dedicated to the complete cultural landscape of our region. It is a mission that calls for diligence, creativity, and a perpetual commitment to the community that we serve, ensuring the stories of Grainger County endure.
Our Vision
Cultivating a Future Rooted in a Rich Past
Our Vision for the Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society is to become the leading regional model for integrated arts and heritage preservation, recognized statewide for our depth of collection and the innovative nature of our community programming. We aspire to maintain a state-of-the-art, publicly accessible archive and museum that is constantly growing and adapting to new digital technologies, making local history as accessible on a smartphone as it is in our reading room. This vision includes expanding our physical footprint to incorporate larger studio spaces for artists, a dedicated theater for local performance arts, and outdoor educational spaces that showcase heirloom gardening and historical architectural practices. Ultimately, we seek to embed the understanding and appreciation of local heritage so deeply within the community consciousness that it naturally fuels local pride, economic development through cultural tourism, and a shared commitment to sustainable growth.
Our Values
Integrity, Inclusivity, and Intergenerational Connection
The core values that guide all our decisions and interactions are centered on three fundamental principles: Integrity, Inclusivity, and Intergenerational Connection. Integrity demands meticulous accuracy in our historical documentation and authenticity in the preservation and teaching of traditional arts, ensuring we respect and accurately represent the lives and contributions of all Grainger County residents throughout time. Inclusivity means actively seeking out and welcoming every voice, story, and artistic expression from the diverse tapestry of our county, creating programs that are affordable, accessible, and welcoming to all ages, backgrounds, and perspectives. Intergenerational Connection is paramount; we design specific programs to bring together elders who hold vital knowledge with youth eager to learn, bridging the gap between historical memory and contemporary application to create a continuous, living culture that transcends demographic divides.
Our Impact
Enriching Lives and Sustaining the County’s Soul
The profound impact of the Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society is measured not in dollars, but in the sustained vibrancy and cultural resilience of our community. By providing a dedicated, neutral space for cultural expression and historical dialogue, we contribute directly to the social well-being of residents, fostering a sense of belonging and collective identity that is essential in a rapidly changing world. Our programs have demonstrably led to the revival of several once-dormant traditional crafts, creating new opportunities for creative expression and small-scale entrepreneurship among local artisans. Furthermore, our dedication to historical literacy empowers citizens to understand the context of current issues, fostering informed and engaged civic participation. We are building a legacy where future generations will not have to search for their roots, because the arts and heritage of Grainger County will be actively preserved, celebrated, and available to them.
Programs/Services
Comprehensive Offerings for Every Age and Interest
The Grainger County Arts and Heritage Society intentionally designs its programs to serve a vast and intergenerational spectrum of the community, ranging from early childhood through to active senior citizens, recognizing that heritage is a multi-age conversation. For our youth, we offer specialized summer history camps and after-school craft workshops tailored to elementary and middle school students, using engaging, hands-on projects to teach complex concepts. Teenagers are invited to participate in our digital archiving internship program, gaining valuable skills while conducting research. Our core audience remains adults and seniors, for whom we offer our most detailed programs, including master classes in heritage crafts, in-depth historical lecture series, and the crucial oral history interviewing program, ensuring that every resident, regardless of age or ability, can find a meaningful avenue for participation and contribution within the Society’s mission.
What are the enrollment requirements for your arts and heritage workshops, and how far in advance should I register?
Enrollment for our specialized arts and heritage workshops is open to the public, with specific age minimums detailed for each individual class, typically accommodating both youth (with separate children’s programs) and adult learners. Registration is handled online through our website or by visiting the Society in person, and because class sizes are intentionally kept small to ensure personalized instruction, we strongly recommend registering at least three to four weeks in advance of the start date to secure your spot, especially for popular heritage crafts like basketry or blacksmithing. We do maintain a waiting list for sold-out classes and will notify registrants promptly if a space becomes available due to cancellation.
What safety and security measures are in place to protect both visitors and the valuable historical artifacts in the Society’s collection?
The safety of our visitors and the security of Grainger County’s irreplaceable artifacts are our highest priorities, and we maintain stringent protocols to ensure the integrity of our collection and the well-being of our guests. Our archive rooms are equipped with climate-controlled environmental systems and non-acidic storage materials to prevent degradation, and access to these sensitive areas is strictly limited to trained staff and authorized researchers. For the public areas, we maintain up-to-date fire and security monitoring systems, and all public events are supervised by trained staff and volunteers to ensure a safe, family-friendly environment. We ask all visitors to help us maintain security by adhering to posted rules, especially regarding the handling of artifacts and the use of photography in designated areas.
Can you explain the philosophy behind your educational curriculum and how it balances history with the arts?
Our educational curriculum is intentionally holistic, operating under the philosophy that the arts and history of Grainger County are inseparable components of a single cultural identity; the art often tells the story of the history, and the history provides the context for the art. We teach this balance by integrating local historical narratives into our arts workshops—for example, teaching textile arts in the context of 19th-century farm life—and by showcasing traditional craftsmanship alongside primary documents in our exhibitions. The curriculum promotes critical thinking, skill acquisition, and cultural literacy, aiming to produce citizens who are not only knowledgeable about their past but also creatively engaged in their present, understanding that heritage is a living tradition that requires active participation.
Does the Society offer any programs or services specifically related to local foodways, agriculture, or heirloom gardening traditions?
Yes, a significant portion of our heritage programming is dedicated to preserving and promoting Grainger County’s rich agricultural history, which is essential to the region’s identity. We regularly host workshops focused on historical foodways, including traditional Appalachian preservation techniques like canning, pickling, and smoking, often utilizing heirloom seeds and recipes sourced directly from our archives. We also offer seasonal lectures and gardening activities that focus on native flora, historical farming methods, and the cultivation of regional heirloom vegetables. These programs emphasize the sustainability and ingenuity of our ancestors’ practices, connecting attendees with the land and the agricultural traditions that built our community.
What is the typical schedule of events, and are there any membership benefits to help support the Society’s ongoing work?
Our event schedule is dynamic and seasonal, with a constant rotation of public workshops, lectures, and exhibitions planned throughout the year; a full, up-to-date calendar is always available on our website. Generally, we host historical lectures on a monthly basis, run art workshops weekly or bi-weekly, and feature new major exhibitions quarterly. We strongly encourage community support through our membership program, which offers a range of valuable benefits, including free admission to all regular exhibits, significant discounts on all workshops and special activities, and exclusive access to members-only archival viewing sessions and quarterly newsletters detailing new acquisitions and research findings, all while directly funding our preservation efforts.