The Artisan’s Experience
Many artisan groups have made Wildacres Retreat their favorite get-away location. The retreat offers a wide range of spaces that such groups find fit their needs perfectly. Groups that stay at Wildacres have the opportunity to really get away from outside distractions and focus on connecting through learning from each other and dedicated creation time. All stays at Wildacres include lodging, family-style meals in our dining hall, use of program facilities, and full access to our extensive hiking trail system.
Workspaces
- Upstairs art studio within our pottery building
- Smaller meeting/creation rooms within our Lodges
- Large well-lit meeting spaces indoors and in our auditorium
- Outdoor workspaces such as the barn shelter and amphitheater
- Quiet spaces throughout the retreat
Sample artisan groups
- Appalachian Expressive Arts Summer Institute
- Redux Art Retreat
- Creative Watercolor Technique
- Carolina Captured Photography
- Charlotte Woodcarvers Club
- Creative Sculpture
- Rising Sun Pottery
- Masonry Heaters Association
- Florida Goldsmiths
- Blue Ridge Polymer Clay Guild
- Greenville Modern Quilt Guild
- Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies
- Southeastern Federation of Mineralogical Societies
OUR STUDIO
The studio is a great space for groups wishing an open floor plan, and good lighting.
Lodge Patio
Wildacres has a beautiful stone patio located between our north and south lodges. It is perfectly located due to the great views, excellent light, and of course, the amazing company!
OUTDOOR SPACES
Our outdoor art spaces, such as the barn shelter and amphitheater, are perfect for classes and creation time in the fresh mountain air.
LAPIDARY WORKSHOP
Wildacres has a fully equipped lapidary workshop that’s currently used by groups that come to the center for jewelry making workshops.
Pottery Studio
The Wildacres pottery studio was opened in 1991. Our pottery studio is fully equipped and is used by many pottery groups. Ceramics has become a wonderful part of the programs of Wildacres Retreat. Equipment was purchased with a grant from the Fletcher Foundation and the studio was designed by Norm Schulman, a nationally known potter. The facility is used by various potters for workshops and by other groups offering pottery classes as part of their programming.
The pottery studio contains fourteen potter’s wheels, slab roller, extruder, drying booth, worktables, two gas kilns, and two electric kilns. It is a great working space for up to 16 to 18 people.
Next Steps
If you are interested in considering Wildacres Retreat for your non-profit group, you are welcome to call us at 828.756.4573. We can learn more about your group, what you are looking for in a retreat space, and talk more about the potential fit with Wildacres. We look forward to connecting soon!
