Montreat Conference Center is excited to share that the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery will be offering a variety of classes, demonstrations, and workshops this summer for adults interested in learning more about the arts. Classes are offered weekly Monday through Wednesday, with a mix of one-day and two-day courses, many of which result in a completed project (with the exception of pottery glazing). Thursdays are reserved exclusively for glazing. This summer, offerings will include projects focusing on ceramics, glass, painting, drawing, sewing and textile arts, photography, and writing.
Classes will begin on Monday, June 8, 2026, and continue through August 7. Class offerings change weekly, but a preview of available classes can be viewed online beginning at 6:00 pm EDT the Thursday prior. Registration opens on Friday mornings at 9:00 am EDT and can be completed at montreat-pottery.square.site/s/shop. Class sizes are limited, so don’t wait to sign up!
The staff for the craft center includes 12 dedicated individuals who are experts in their craft and, in many cases, have a long history of engaging with Montreat’s ministry. We will also welcome 13 artists through our Artist in Residence program. Each Artist in Residence typically spends between one and two weeks in Montreat, during which they share techniques and skills specific to their work. We invite you to check out our website and This Week in Montreat later this summer to learn more about them and their offerings.
In other news, many of you may be aware that last fall Ann Laird Jones retired as Montreat’s director of arts ministry. For more than five decades, Ann served Montreat in countless ways. Through the welcoming arms of the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery, she offered hospitality to thousands, encouraging both the reluctant and the eager to embrace the joy of creating and expressing themselves – and God’s gifts – through art. We give thanks for Ann’s commitment to this ministry! As part of this season of transition, we also share that our long-time Arts Administrator, Nancy Hyde, will be stepping away from her role. Nancy’s steady presence and care have been a meaningful part of the program, and we are deeply grateful for her years of service. In light of these transitions, Christina Carlisle and Blair Hartman will serve as co-directors of the craft center, and we are pleased to welcome Sarah Hada, who will serve as arts administrator.
Blair has been involved with the Montreat community in a variety of different capacities over the years, first as a clubbie, and then as a member of the Summer Staff. We welcome his patience, good humor, and playful creativity to the craft center leadership! Blair and his family will join us from Richmond, VA where he teaches studio art. He will direct the craft center June through July 4.
Christina learned to throw on the porch of Sally Jones Pottery, and her curiosity with clay never ceased. She has pursued the craft widely, exploring sculpture, slip-casting, and mold making. But during the summer her focus returns to wheel throwing as an instructor. Christina and her family join us annually from New Orleans, LA where she is a studio volunteer at Tulane University. She will direct the craft center from July 4 through the end of the summer.
Sarah has deep roots in both the arts and Montreat. Hailing from Black Mountain, NC, she previously served on the craft center staff in 2025. Sarah’s gifts in the fields of design and illustration have been a welcome addition, particularly when it comes to handbuilding!
Together, the three of them are “humbled to lead an institution that has played pivotal roles in all of our lives. Our hope is to continue to use the arts as a catalyst for gathering and connecting with each other in this sacred place.”
We hope you will consider joining us for this or one of our many other summer offerings! More information will be available soon at montreat.org/crafts-pottery.
This article was originally published in the May 2026 edition of Montreat Conference Center’s email newsletter Engaging Grace which highlights conference and event opportunities for adults. Sign up to receive Engaging Grace directly in your inbox by clicking here.