The Arkansas Craft School has elected five new Directors to its Governing Board. Those elected are Corky Baker, President of the Stone County Iron Works who will serve as chair of marketing; Leo Sutterfield, President of First Service Bank of Mountain View who will serve as chair of finance; Richard Hempel, Registered Nurse with the White River Health Systems who will serve as chair of fund development; Roberta Katz-Messenger, owner of the Katz-Messenger Stained Glass Co. in Clinton, AR.; and Jeanette Larson, Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR. These new directors join Joe Doster of the Technology Faculty at North Arkansas College in Harrison, AR who is the 2009 president; Helen Phillips, retired Professor of Art at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR; Pat Cash, Vice President of Citizens Bank in Mountain View, AR; Gin Brown, Campus Manager of Ozarka College in Mountain View, AR who is chair of program and curriculum; Michael DeLong, Academic Vice President at Ozarka College in Melbourne, AR; Cheri McKee-McSwain, Instructor, Arts and Humanities at Ozarka College who is chair of personnel; Mike Luster, Director Arkansas Folklife Program; and Grady Spann, General Manager of Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR.
The responsibilities of the Board of Directors include general oversight of the School, financial management, fund development, policy determination, and strategic planning. Wright Pillow is the Executive Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the School.
The Mission of the Arkansas Craft School is to educate aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the creative economy. Though crafters of all skill levels are served by the Craft School, the primary focus of the School includes practicing artisans and student artisans who are considering a craft-based vocation. The artistic focus of the school is primarily two and three dimensional contemporary craft forms informed by the rich history of traditional craft. The School offers courses in marketing of craft; business management of the small craft business; skill and technical studies in the five basic craft media including glass, metal, fiber, wood, and clay/ceramics; and ancillary and foundation skills including drawing, painting, design, and maintenance of artistic quality.
The Arkansas Craft School is a partnership including the Arkansas Craft Guild, Ozarka College, and Ozark Folk Center. It is a 501.c.3 educational not-for-profit corporation.
