The Folk School offers 25% off tuition and a guaranteed available spot upon registration to people living in the following neighboring counties: North Carolina: Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Swain, Jackson, and Graham. Georgia: Fannin, Towns, Union, Gilmer, and Rabun. Tennessee: Polk. 

DISCLAIMER:  Those looking to receive this benefit are required to present one of the following, showing proof of local address including city and state: a valid driver’s license, voter registration card, tax bill, or utility bill. Memberships must be renewed every three years. 

The Folk School offers 15% off tuition and a guaranteed available space upon registration for active military & veterans.

DISCLAIMER:  Must present proof of capital VA card or capital DD-214 form.

The Folk School offers 15% off tuition and a guaranteed available spot upon registration for Young Adults (ages 18-25) and Teachers currently employed in a K-12 environment.

DISCLAIMER:  Teachers must present either a current contract or current paystub showing their role as a full or part-time Teacher. Memberships must be renewed every three years. Young Adults are required to submit valid driver’s license or government- issued identification showing proof of age. Young Adult memberships end at age 26.

How did this program come about?

This new initiative replaces our standby program that ended in late 2021. Many residents, in student surveys and community listening sessions, said our standby options didn’t allow enough time to plan their visits.

In addition, some residents were disappointed that they were not able to attend a class they truly wanted to take.

Our revised program structure better accommodates our local community members’ needs and eliminates the confusion caused by the last-minute nature of our previous standby program.

This program is part of our larger Strategic Plan, and builds on our desire to provide meaningful experiences for neighbors in surrounding counties.

If you have any questions about the program, or are unsure if you qualify, please contact our Registration department.

What other opportunities are available?

The Folk School has an abundance of scholarships available for those in need. Scholarships provide partial or full financial support for tuition, housing, and meals for a weeklong or weekend class.

Our scholarship application is simple and straightforward. There’s no financial paperwork needed. Applications are open year-round, and scholarships are awarded on an ongoing basis.

Learn more and apply today on our Scholarships page.

We also host a number of short-term, affordable workshops for youth and adults at Olive’s Porch, our new Folk School experience in downtown Murphy. This is a great alternative for someone who wants to learn more about Appalachian crafts but cannot dedicate a whole week to one of our on-campus classes.

View the full schedule and register for workshops on their site, olivesporch.org