Spruce Forest Artisan Village and the surrounding businesses are the heart of the A&E District.

The Spruce Forest Artisan Village is closed for the season, and won’t officially reopen until April 2024. But you can use the SFAV Artisan Work link to contact artists directly during the off season.

Join us for the annual Christmas in the Village, December 1st to 2nd

Complete Event and Schedule Information

Enter the Artists’ Registry here

Artists who reside in the Grantsville A&E District Register Here:

Generations of Garrett County Art Lovers

Welcome to Grantsville, Maryland! Here atop the highest ridges of the Maryland Appalachians lives a population of hardy, resourceful, and creative people, some new to the area and others with deep roots. The arts have long been a vital component to life here, where winters are harsh and summers are mild, spring is wet and autumn is glorious. Art springs from all directions, often inspired by life in the mountains, somewhat removed from urban places but right along the highway, open to visitors and influences from Washington, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and more, but also a unique spot all its own, with long-lived artisan traditions.

Here on the mountaintop, arts flourish. Fabric traditions -- such as quilting, tatting, and crocheting -- thrive. Visual artists are inspired by the natural surroundings of Garrett County, where the Potomac, the Youghiogheny, and the Casselman rivers flow through wildlands and scenic vistas. Sculptors and carvers, writers and actors, dancers and musicians all have a place here in the mountains. Come visit our beautiful district, tour the Spruce Forest Artisan Village, hike along the historic Casselman, attend a concert by Music at Penn Alps, visit our studios and shops. Arts are alive and thriving in the A&E District of Grantsville. Come see for yourself!

The Arts

The crown jewel of the Grantsville A&E District is the Spruce Forest Artisan Village, where historic cottages house studios of accomplished potters, weavers, painters, sculptors, woodworkers, and more. The artisans inhabit the village throughout the summer each year, offering demonstrations, workshops, and of course their work for sale. The lovely surroundings of tall spruces and the nearby Casselman River make for a perfect setting, where one can experience the cool mountain air and the rich scent of pine while walking through the paths and visiting each unique structure.

You can visit the Spruce Forest Artisan Village website at www.spruceforest.org/

In addition to the Spruce Forest artists, many others live within the Grantsville district creating their own unique art. Fabric traditions of quilting, crocheting, and sewing go back a century or more, and thrive throughout the region. Crafters and culinary artists make their marks in the A&E District, and there are small studios of photography and other visual art nearby.

The Entertainment

There is certainly entertinament to be found within the Grantsville A&E District! A longtime staple of the thriving music culture is Music at Penn Alps, which has offered a summer concert season since 1992. MPA presents chamber groups, soloists, duos, trios, and groups of all combinations in concert at the Great Hall and the historic Village Chapel. The genre of music ranges from classic to contemporary, and many in between. The organization also offers scholarships to young musicians to help fund music lessons throughout the year. The recipients of these scholarships then present an annual recital to showcase their successes.

Information about Music at Penn Alps is available online at www.musicatpennalps.org.

Other entertainment in the district include events such as Grantsville Days, held annually at the end of June. This weekend of fun features live music, games, competitions, parades, fireworks, and more. The National Road Festival takes place each spring, involving the town in the traditional wagon train tour along Old Rt. 40. Entertainment can also be found in the exploration of historic sites within the district, such as the Casselman Valley Inn, the Casselman River Bridge State Park, The Granary, Grantsville Museum, and Stanton's Mill.

The History

Grantsville received its A&E District designation in 2015 in an effort spearheaded by Karen Reckner, then the executive director of the Garrett County Arts Council. The A&E District program was developed and launched by the Maryland State Arts Council, and arts advocates across the state were encouraged to pursue the designation. Karen saw the Spruce Forest Artisan Village as the perfect keystone for an application. She pursued the designation by organizing meetings, compiling the information, and working with town representatives to complete the application.

Since receiving the designation, the A&E District Advisory Board has been meeting regularly and planning events and activities, all with the goal of promoting the local artists as well as encouraging out-of-area artists to consider making their homes within the district. A coordinator was hired in 2018 to work with the advisory board members, town representatives, and the Garrett County Arts Council. This individual, Kathryn Beachler, has since taken over the executive director role for the arts council following Ms. Reckner’s retirement. Mary McEwen was hired as the coordinator in January 2020.

The A&E District designation lasts for 10 years and then a reapplication is required. The Grantsville A&E District Advisory Board will be working on a detailed strategic plan early this year in order to be prepared for the upcoming redesignation process.

Our Goals

The goals of the Grantsville A&E Advisory Board are in keeping with the parameters of the statewide A&E District Program. We are striving toward developing and promoting community involvement, tourism, and revitalization through tax-related incentives that attract artists, arts organizations, and other creative enterprises to the district.

Grantsville’s A&E District is one of Maryland's 28 designations, each with a unique focus and character. The district allows for the promotion and sustaining of local traditions, keeping them alive and ever-evolving. In our district, we have such opportunity and potential to enhance the already well-established Spruce Forest Artisan Village and Music at Penn Alps, as well as to promote smaller artistic ventures in music, art, dance, and theatre. 
A long-term goal is to develop an arts center where artists of all walks of life can congregate, to both teach and learn, with proper compensation for effort and talent. The Grantsville A&E District now has the opportunity to pursue this plan alongside the Garrett County Arts Council. Planning is underway!

Mission

The Grantsville A&E District leadership is dedicated to promoting, supporting, and celebrating the wide-ranging artistry of our gifted community!

The History is forever!

A&E District Advisory Board Members

Kathy Beachler, Garrett County Arts Council

Sean Beachy, Musician, Garrett College, Music at Penn Alps

Kathryn Delaney, Spruce Forest Artisan Village

Mark Diehl, Grantsville Mayor

Kim Folk, Western Maryland Heritage Area

Tracy Fratz, Penn Alps Restaurant

Regina Holliday, Artist, Community Advocate

Robin Jones, Town of Grantsville Administrator

Anthony Wroten, A&E District Coordinator

Emily Newman-Edwards, Grantsville Town Council

Paul Edwards, Garrett County Commissioner, Garrett County Public Schools

Maureen Sheaffer, Mountain Maryland Mamas

Duane Stein, Railey Realty, Grantsville Lions Club