Western North Carolina is known as a cultural epicenter of a variety of heritage arts and crafts, bringing thousands of people to the area every year in search of goods and instruction. Two well-known folk schools in the region – Penland School of Crafts, and J.C. Campbell Folk School  – each located less than two hours from Dillsboro, have drawn national and international attention for their efforts to rekindle interest in the traditional heritage arts. Within 20 miles of Dillsboro are Western Carolina University with its Studio Art BFA and MFA programs, and Haywood Community College, which has a nationally acclaimed professional crafts program. 

Dillsboro is a quaint small town, boasting many craft studios, shops and galleries.  When the Jackson County Commissioners initially held a community meeting to discuss possible end users of the landfill gas, it was a natural fit to create artisan studios, focusing on craft forms that use gas as their fuel source. Blacksmith, Pottery, and Glass Blowing studios were determined as having the greatest fuel costs, and it was decided that JCGEP would encourage the success of new artisans by acting as a business incubator, offering fully functional studios and free LFG as fuel during the 1-3 year tenancies. The JCGEP craft program was modeled after the Energy Xchange, a pioneer landfill/craft business incubator located in Burnsville, NC.

 
Blacksmithing Village — Completed in Summer 2007, the GEP Blacksmith Village features the first and only blacksmith forges fired on landfill gas. The studio spaces were designed and built by Master Blacksmith William Rogers (above left), a respected professional with over 30 years of experience. The smithy includes landfill gas forges, plasma cutter, a dedicated welding area with wire-feed and arc welders, torches, a power hammer, and other metalworking equipment. The modified, natural-gas forges have achieved temperatures of 2300°F to date, running on gas being harvested straight from the landfill. This unique facility offers modern renewable energy technology, along with traditional coal forges, to allow users to experience blacksmithing in a past, present, and future tense. JCGEP is a proud member of the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA).
 
Pottery Studio — The pottery studio will include shared space for six tenants. Tenants will pay a rental fee for their studio space as well as a small firing fee for using the kilns. Though gas for the kilns is included in rent, all tenants will share water and electricity costs. Equipment includes an electric bisque kiln and two 22 cubic ft. kilns that will be fired on methane gas from the landfill. Potters will be expected to provide their own wheels.  Artists interested in more information about being a tenant should contact us at info@JCGEP.org.  Applications will be available in Summer 2008.
 
Glass Blowing Studios — The glass studio will include shared space for two tenants and their assistants. Tenants will pay a rental fee for their studio space, with water and electricity costs to be shared with other tenants. The glory holes will be fired on methane gas from the landfill, and other studio equipment will include a 400# electric furnace, 2 annealing ovens, a color box, and extensive cold-working tools. Tenants will be expected to provide their own blowpipes, punties, and hand tools.

Artists interested in more information about being a tenant should contact us at info@JCGEP.org.  Applications will be available in Summer 2008.