Our Story

What was once an environmental liability is now becoming a source of creativity, education, sustainability, and community growth.

Established in 2006 by the Jackson County Government, the Jackson County Green Energy Park was created through an innovative initiative designed to reduce harmful emissions from a nearby landfill. Instead of flaring the methane gas naturally produced by the landfill into the atmosphere, the Park captures and redirects the energy to power a first-of-its-kind creative arts facility.

Over the past fifteen years, the Park has grown into a dynamic center for regional artists, students, educators, and community members. Known locally simply as “the Park,” the facility has become nationally recognized for its unique combination of sustainability and the arts — particularly through its glassblowing and blacksmithing programs, both fueled entirely by recaptured landfill methane gas.

As the organization enters a new chapter in 2026 under renewed leadership, its vision continues to evolve while remaining firmly grounded in environmental stewardship. Now emerging as the Dillsboro Creative Arts Center, the organization will expand beyond its original foundation to embrace a broader creative mission focused on the sustainability of regional arts, crafts, culture, and community engagement.

The Center believes that access to arts education, creative spaces, and cultural experiences is essential to a thriving community. Through workshops, public events, artist collaborations, educational outreach, and hands-on learning opportunities, the organization seeks to inspire creativity, strengthen community connections, and preserve the artistic traditions of Western North Carolina for future generations.

At its core, the Dillsboro Creative Arts Center represents the transformation of waste into opportunity, energy into expression, and creativity into community impact.

Our Team

‍Julie Boisseau-Craig - Project Manager

As of April 2026, Julie Fawn Boisseau-Craig has taken the helm as Project Manager of the Jackson County Green Energy Park and the Dillsboro Creative Arts Center. As one of the initial artists of the Park, Julie brings more than 48 years of experience as a working artist and decades of dedication to arts education, mentorship, and community engagement. Her leadership combines deep institutional knowledge with a forward-looking vision focused on growth, collaboration, and expanding opportunities for both artists and the surrounding community.

Throughout her distinguished career, Julie has taught at Western Carolina University, Southwestern Community College, and the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally, and she continues to participate in workshops, demonstrations, and educational programs that share her passion for traditional craft and contemporary artistic practice.

Julie earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from Western Carolina University in December 2012.

In addition to her leadership role, Julie teaches a wide range of classes in glassblowing and lampworking at the Park and also instructs ceramics through the Heritage Arts Program at Southwestern Community College near Bryson City. A passionate maker and lifelong educator, she has remained an active resident artist at the Park since its founding. Her dedication, creativity, and commitment to community continue to shape and inspire the next generation of artists and makers throughout Western North Carolina.

https://wildponystudio.com

Kevin McNiff - Maintenance Manager

I am a studio technician at the Jackson County Green Energy Park, where I maintain the equipment for the glass-blowing studio and mobile glassblowing rig, the blacksmithing studios, our wood fire kilns, and our gas extraction system that we use to pull methane off of the old landfill to fire our equipment. I have a love of the technical aspects of our different equipment and knowing how things work, as well as traditional modes of making.

My first venture into ceramics was in the 6th grade, and it has stuck with me since then. I continued my exploration of ceramics throughout my high school years into my undergraduate studies at Ferrum College and my graduate school studies at Western Carolina University, where I completed my Master of Fine Arts with a focus on ceramics. I have had a continued interest throughout my studies in different firing techniques, focusing on the surface and atmospheric effects available through different firing methods.

https://www.stonehousepotsnc.com/artists/kevin-mcniff

Chelsea Miller- Program Manager

Born and raised in Homestead (FL), Chelsea graduated from Western Carolina University in December 2014 with degrees in fine arts and education. She is highly knowledgeable in the areas of glass blowing and blacksmithing, having taken classes from master teachers. She is devoted to the community and enjoys giving back - she started working with the JCGEP as a volunteer in 2010.