GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	2 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 393
Corrected Copy 4/23/93

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Sponsors: Representatives Mavretic, Jenkins, G. Thompson; Beall, Bowman, and Flaherty.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

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March 4, 1993

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE FOUNDERS OF THE JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL AND THE PENLAND SCHOOL OF CRAFTS AND DECLARING BOTH SCHOOLS AS NORTH CAROLINA ARTS AND CRAFTS RESOURCES.
Whereas, North Carolina is the location of two of the nation's most unique cultural resources, the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Penland School of Crafts; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School, located in Brasstown, began as an idea of John C. and Olive Dame Campbell to revitalize rural Western North Carolina based on a Danish folk school theory; and
Whereas, in 1925, with donations of land, labor, materials, and funds from families in Brasstown, Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler Bidstrup began the John C. Campbell Folk School; and
Whereas, in the years to follow, the John C. Campbell Folk School created agricultural demonstration projects, the first area farmers' credit union, health and nutrition programs, a library, a residential school, a cannery, a dairy, agricultural cooperatives, cottage industries, and later an internationally recognized traditional Appalachian craft school; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School was designated as an Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School pioneered such programs as job training for veterans in the late 1940s, a literacy program in the mid-1950s, a community cannery in the 1960s, and a mentor-apprenticeship crafts program in 1990; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School heritage arts and folklore program plays a critical role in recognizing and preserving North Carolina's traditions and properly presenting and interpreting the character of North Carolinians to a larger, national public; and
Whereas, in 1992, over 15,000 people attended the John C. Campbell Folk School's outreach programs in public schools and communities, providing a critical reminder to the residents of this State of the uniqueness of North Carolina's mountain traditions; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School serves as a center for youth, civic, church, professional, and business groups from Western North Carolina and across the southeastern region of the United States; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School supports and markets the work of over 200 of the region's finest traditional craftspeople; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School serves as an important point of interest, attracting over 50,000 travellers in 1992; and
Whereas, since 1985, of 237 existing craft schools, the John C. Campbell Folk School has had the most students and offered the most courses in craft, music, and dance; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School, in the spirit of its founders, works toward two inter-connected goals, namely, the growth of the individual in an inner, spiritual sense toward finding the creative expression with each of us, and secondly, the growth of people as members of society, more caring, more understanding, and more tolerant toward their fellow human beings; and
Whereas, the John C. Campbell Folk School is one of North Carolina's most unique cultural resources and a national resource for traditional crafts, music, dance, and folklore, and is the only school of its kind in the United States; and
Whereas, in 1923, the Penland School of Crafts was begun as the Penland School of Handicrafts, by Lucy Morgan in order to revive handweaving and to provide women in rural Western North Carolina with additional income from the sale of their products; and
Whereas, the Penland School of Crafts, incorporated in 1929 and located in Mitchell County, promotes individual and artistic growth in crafts by providing programs and instructional facilities that encourage genuine innovation, knowledge of the history of applied design, and excellence in craftsmanship, and by preserving the traditions of folk arts and the heritage of improvisation; and
Whereas, the Penland School of Crafts offers classes in book arts, ceramics, drawing, fiber and surface design, glass, metals, paper, photography, printmaking, and wood; and
Whereas, through the North Carolina Office of Public Instruction, Penland School of Crafts offers teacher certificate renewal credit and a special program for North Carolina visual arts teachers; and
Whereas, through the Greater University Systems of North Carolina and Tennessee, students may earn graduate and undergraduate academic credits by attending the Penland School of Crafts; and
Whereas, in 1992, the Penland School of Crafts had students from 51 of North Carolina's counties; and
Whereas, over 150 instructors offer classes during each year at the Penland School of Crafts, coming from all over the United States and occasionally from other countries; and
Whereas, the Penland School of Crafts offers a special one-half tuition program to residents of Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties; and
Whereas, over 100 professional craft studios have been established in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties as a direct influence of the Penland School of Crafts, which has a strong positive effect on tourism and the local economy; and
Whereas, in 1987, the Penland School of Crafts received the Mountain Heritage Award from Western Carolina University for outstanding contributions to the preservation and interpretation of the heritage and culture of Western North Carolina and the Gold Medal in Education for long-time service from the American Craft Council; and
	Whereas, it is important to acknowledge the contributions of the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Penland School of Crafts and to encourage the citizens of this State to take advantage of them;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  The General Assembly of North Carolina wishes to honor the founders of the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Penland School of Crafts.
Sec. 2.  The General Assembly of North Carolina wishes to recognize the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Penland School of Crafts as North Carolina arts and crafts resources and to encourage the citizens of this State to take advantage of them.
Sec. 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the directors of the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Penland School of Crafts.
Sec. 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.