The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, which has long been in Gatlinburg, has said it plans to relocate either to Greeneville or Knoxville.

The board of governors of the nationally renowned arts center announced Thursday that its landlord, the Pi Beta Phi fraternity, has agreed to extend the current lease only through August, 2012.

However, an Arrowmont press release said, "The Pi Beta Phi fraternity has indicated there will be no further extensions of the current lease beyond 2012.

"As a result, a planning committee of the Board of Governors affirmed the need to finalize plans no later than the end of August 2010 regarding options for its facilities.

"The firm of Kennedy, Coulter, Rushing & Watson of Chattanooga, Tennessee presented a comprehensive site viability study which included an analysis of several potential sites for relocation of the school, as well as the feasibility of remaining in the current Gatlinburg location.

"Based on the results of the study, the Executive Committee appointed a task force to further explore the two most promising alternative sites for the school. These sites are located in Greeneville and Knoxville."

Scott Niswonger, the Greeneville business leader and philanthropist, "is very involved" in seeking to attract the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts here, according to Bob Cantler, general manager of the General Morgan Inn, which Niswonger owns.

Speaking for Niswonger and himself, Cantler said this morning, "We're very excited about the opportunity. Arrowmont School has a long, impressive heritage."

Niswonger was attending a Tuscuculum College board of trustees meeting this morning and could not be reached for comment.

Cantler said that having Arrowmont School located here "would bring people to Greeneville from all over the world."

Arrowmont's' announcement added, "At the same time, the board will examine the viability of purchasing the acreage occupied by the school in Gatlinburg."

However, the landlord of the Gatlinburg location, the Pi Beta Phi fraternity, is likely to be able to sell the downtown Gatlinburg site to a developer for much more money than Arrowmont can pay for its location.

Arrowmont Executive Director David Willard said in a news release, "I am impressed with the outpouring of support from both Greeneville and Knoxville and their enthusiasm for relocating Arrowmont to their respective communities.

"This is a testament to the school's reputation as a world-class center for arts education as well as its cultural significance in East Tennessee," Willard said.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a nationally renowned arts center that offers one- and two-week and weekend workshops in ceramics, fiber, metals, glass, painting, mixed media, and woodworking for beginners to advanced artists.

Students learn in professionally-equipped studios on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg.

Five galleries, an art supply store, and an artist resource center are open to visitors year-round.

Arrowmont was founded in 1912 as the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School.

For more information about Arrowmont's programs, go to www-arrowmont.org or call (865) 436-5860.