Applicants who qualify–as listed below–and take unfilled spaces in Penland sessions four weeks or less before the first day of the workshop will receive half-price tuition;. Regular room and board fees apply. Note: enrollment closes on the Friday that is two weeks before the beginning of the workshop.

Qualified applicants may use the standby application form to apply for any upcoming Penland workshop. Applicants will be contacted two to four weeks before the beginning of the workshop if a space is available. 

Local Standby

The standby discount is available to residents of Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties in North Carolina and Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties in Tennessee.

K-12 Teacher’s Standby

The standby discount is available to all K-12 teachers, regardless of where they live. Applicants will be asked to furnish proof of current employment as a teacher.

Higher Education Standby

The standby discount is available to all current college, university, or community college faculty, regardless of where they live. Applicants will be asked to furnish proof of current employment.

Military Standby

The standby discount is available available to all active, retired, and veteran military personnel. If offered a space in the standby program, applicants will be asked to provide proof of service via one of the following credentials; 1) current military ID, 2) State issued driver’s license or Identification Card with Veteran designation, 3) retirement ID card, or 4) Form DD-214.  If you choose to submit the DD-214, please be sure to redact social security number prior to submission.

To Register

Standby Registration Form

Use the Standby registration form. There is no charge to submit your name as a Standby student. If space is open before the workshop begins, Penland will contact you to complete your enrollment. If you have questions about Standby registration, contact the registration office at 828-765-2359, ext. 1306.

Local standby applicants must present (fax or email) a valid driver’s license, voter registration card, or tax bill showing their local address. Teachers must present a pay stub or letter of employment from their board of education.