This week the Board of Governors of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts announced the appointment of Bill May as the organization’s Interim Executive Director.  
May, a professional stained glass artist, has served as an instructor at the arts center and is the owner of May Studios. He will begin overseeing the operations of the School immediately.
“It is an honor to be asked to serve as Interim Executive Director,” May said. “This is an opportunity to be part of an institution that has helped shape a community, contributed to the development of the arts and crafts movement nationally, and played a significant role in my personal growth as an artist.
“I look forward to joining Arrowmont’s experienced and dedicated staff, as well as our supporters and partners, in realizing every opportunity to advance our mission of ‘enriching lives through art.’”
A native of Birmingham, AL, May attended Tulane University on scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology.  After graduate study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he taught high school in Birmingham until moving to Tennessee in 1981. He designed and built his home near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park while managing an area woodworking shop.
May is a member of the Stained Glass Association of America and the 2011 class of Leadership Sevier. He is a former member of the Gatlinburg Gateway Foundation’s Board of Directors. In 1992, he established the Gatlinburg-based May Studios, which specializes in custom art glass for architectural settings. The work of the studio has been recognized through awards and works have been commissioned for ecclesiastical, commercial and residential spaces in seven states.
He has a long association with Arrowmont. While learning the craft of stained glass, May pursued studies in drawing, sculpture and stained glass design.  Classes taken at Arrowmont were important in his artistic development.  Later, May joined the school as an instructor in stained glass.  In 2009, he joined the School’s Board of Governors.
“It is Arrowmont's good fortune to have among it's supporters a practicing artist who is available to step in and take on the day-to-day management of the School during this exciting time,” said Board President Geoffrey Wolpert. “Bill’s familiarity with both the School and the community will be a tremendous asset as we sustain the forward momentum we’ve achieved since making the decision to remain in Gatlinburg.”
Wolpert noted that the Board’s immediate priorities are to work with Gatlinburg officials to secure the School’s property and that plans for the selection of a permanent Executive Director will be considered in the coming months.  
As Interim Executive Director, May will lead efforts and planning initiatives to raise funds, as well as to develop the necessary partnerships to strengthen Arrowmont’s role both in the community and as a leader in arts education. Arrowmont’s Community and Children’s Workshops begin in January. The 2011 Workshop Catalog will be available in December with courses beginning in March.

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