Read about the Guild's founding and early history in this article.

The Foothills Craft Guild is a non-profit organization of over 280 craft artists residing in Tennessee. The Guild is committed to preserving and promoting craft traditions in the state by:

• educating the public about the value of fine, hand-crafted objects
• sponsoring workshops and craft demonstrations whenever possible
• promoting the work of its members by hosting two annual fine craft shows in Knoxville

To become a juried member of the Guild, an applicant must submit five samples of his work for judging by a nine-member Standards Committee. Guild membership is not limited to active or producing craft artists. Associate members are a welcomed and integral part of the organization through their volunteer support of Guild objectives. Our fund-raising program, Friends of Foothills, comprises a group of individuals providing financial support to the Guild in its effort to promote awareness and education about fine crafts in Tennessee. The funds are used to support craft scholarships available to the public through an application process.

The Foothills Craft Guild began in 1967 when a group of Oak Ridge artisans saw the need for an organization to "promote and encourage high standards of workmanship in handicrafts" and to "sponsor handicraft shows, exhibitions, and demonstrations which contribute to the advancement and appreciation of art and handicrafts of all kinds." The preceding are quotes from the Foothills Charter granted to the Guild by the State of Tennessee in 1968. The Foothills By-laws govern the direction of the organization and are changed only by vote of the membership.

The Foothills Craft Guild has grown from its beginnings in Oak Ridge into a regional organization of over 280 members. The Guild is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected from the general membership. Staff support positions include a Guild Bookkeeper, Dale Bohanan, our Public Relations Director, Aleex Conner, and our Show Director, Karen Noggle. The Guild is headquartered in the Emporium Building located at 100 South Gay Street, Suite 110, in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee.