Arts Archives

Banner House Museum Announces Hours, Tours, and Tickets for Summer 2025

May 23, 2025. Experience 19th-century life in Banner Elk and the High Country in the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk’s early settlers and his his wife, Jane Hyder Banner, and their seven children. The circa 1870 house has been furnished with period heirlooms donated and loaned by area residents to tell the story of Banner Elk life from the 1870’s to the 1900’s. An exhibition room highlights local history from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In addition, visitors may see a volunteer weaver demonstrating traditional hand-weaving techniques on a floor loom.

May 23, 2025. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) announces a new exhibition,“Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct,” which will be on view from May 31 through October 19, 2025, in the Fort Gallery at BRAHM. “Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct” explores the development of Tonalism—a distinctly American response to early modernist impulses in painting—and its connection to Elliott Daingerfield (1859–1932). Featuring works by Daingerfield and other key figures, the exhibition examines how tonalist principles were applied to the landscapes of the American South and became a significant influence on Daingerfield’s artistic evolution.

May 13, 2025. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) is pleased to announce its third annual “ARS POETICA” exhibition, which will be on view in the Alexander Community Gallery from September 6 through November 13, 2025. The Museum invites poets and visual artists to submit their work by June 13, 2025. Inspired by Horace’s “Ars Poetica,” in which the Roman poet wrote, “as is painting, so is poetry,” this juried exhibition explores the profound relationship between visual art and the written word. While distinct in form, poetry and visual art each strive to move, inspire and deepen human understanding.

May 12, 2025 The 7th annual Blue Ridge Fiber Fest will take place on June 6 and 7, 2025 at the Higgins Fairgrounds, Sparta, NC. Admission is free, but your generous donation for parking helps to support the Marine Corps Leagues of Alleghany and Surry County and the various charities they support. Over 40 vendors will be on site offering materials for makers, finished goods, and beautiful examples of their work

Nunsense Musical Comes to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church June 1st, 3rd and 4th

May 12, 2025 Lees-McRae Summer Theatre kicks off its 40th season with the hilarious musical Nunsense. In this zany musical revue, the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters. They are in dire need of funds for the burials, so they put on a variety show to raise money. This Broadway hit has been an international phenomenon for 40 years. Shows will be June 1 at 2 p.m., June 3 at 7 p.m. and June 4 at 7 p.m. Admission is free with “pay-what-you-will” donations going to Lees-McRae Summer Theatre.

New Art Classes Announced at the Watauga Arts Council through November

May 8, 2025 The Watauga Arts Council is thrilled to unveil its diverse lineup of hands-on classes and workshops designed to spark creativity, foster skill-building, and bring our arts-loving community together. WAC’s course offerings are packed with opportunities for artists of all skill levels to dive into something new or hone a beloved craft.

May 5, 2025 The Project Dance Foundation is proud to announce the launch of Camp of the Arts, a new multidisciplinary summer arts program designed to meet a growing need in the High Country. Starting June 2025, this immersive camp will offer children in grades K–12 professional instruction in dance, music, theatre, painting, and more. While Boone is home to several vibrant arts organizations, families still face limited options for comprehensive and affordable summer arts programming. Camp of the Arts aims to fill this gap by offering a structured, full-summer initiative that nurtures creativity, encourages self-expression, and fosters community among young artists.

May 4, 2025 Inside the Nth Degree Gallery on King Street in Boone, art spills across the walls with a tactile sense of history, memory and recovery. It’s not surprising once you meet the artist behind it — Ashlynd Scovato, a recent Appalachian State University graduate who turns saved materials into mixed-media works that explore human connection and the landscapes of her mountain home. Originally from Asheville, Scovato moved to Boone for its proximity to home and its cultural art and music scene. “I saw videos of the DIY music scene here and thought, ‘This is where I want to be,’” she said. “Boone just felt like art was happening everywhere.” By Greta Jenkins

April 30, 2025 FLOYD, VA — A renowned cornerstone of Appalachian culture and music, The Floyd Country Store returns as a marquee partner for FloydFest 25~Aurora, not only as the sponsor of FloydFest’s cherished Porch Stage, but also as a lead for its programming during the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 23 to 27, 2025, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. Patrons who have still not secured tickets to FloydFest 25~Aurora are encouraged to do so soon, as some non-sold-out ticket types are in short supply.

March 27, 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer presents its 41st season June 28-July 26 with a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film programming. Artists spanning a variety of genres — folk and pop rock, soul and jazz, R&B and Broadway, chamber and classical, dance, film and visual arts — will be featured in multiple venues on the campus of App State. Tickets go on sale to the public Wednesday, April 16 at 10am.Discounts are available for children/students, App State faculty/staff, and local residents for select performances. For more information, visit www.appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.

February 17, 2025 Margaret Reineking sold the Springhaven Inn to Alexander Hallmark in September 1977. Mr. Hallmark, who later became a well-known sculptor, was a real estate agent at the time. His primary motivation in purchasing the property was most likely economic. He acquired it at a bargain price from Reineking, being that it was somewhat dilapidated, and reasoned that the property was a good investment. In 1977 Alex rented the house to Ben Long and his wife Diane.

February 7, 2025. The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) and Blue Ridge Fiber Guild are excited to unveil their brand new Intro to Fiber Workshop Series, launching on March 22nd and running through August 2025. Every fourth Saturday of the month, from 10 AM to 1 PM, participants will be introduced to a variety of fiber arts, including weaving, spinning, felting, knitting, and natural dyeing. These hands-on workshops are designed for beginners and those looking to expand their fiber art skills in a supportive, creative environment. The guild will also be hosting an open house on February 22, 2025 from 10am to noon at the WAC building. You’re invited to meet the instructors and find out about the classes being offered. There will be light refreshments as guild members show examples of what the classes will cover as well as the instructors’ works.

February 3, 2025 The Watauga Arts Council will host a custom barn quilt painting workshop March 1-2, 2025. Saturday, Day 1, runs from 10-4 and Sunday, Day 2, runs from 10-2. Participants will create their own design with help from the instructor, Cinda Ebner. They will then learn the techniques needed to produce a beautiful and durable 2×2 barn quilt suitable for display outdoors or indoors. Cost is $135 and includes all supplies. Additional sizes may be available with advance registration. The workshop dates and times, with registration link, are as follows:

January 23, 2025. The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, welcomes acclaimed Latino dance company Ballet Hispánico in CARMEN.maquia, a revolutionary fusion of art and dance, Feb. 8 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $45 Tier 1, $35 Tier 2, $25 Tier 3, $15 children/students; 10% off all tiers for App State faculty/staff.Enter Code BOGO at checkout for a Buy One Get One free offer on all tickets.Buy tickets at TheSchaeferCenter.org, in person at the Schaefer Center box office (733 Rivers Street), or by calling 828-262-4046.

Southern Appalachian Historical Association Announces Theatre Director for “Horn in the West”® 2025 Season – Boone Native Clarinda Ross

January 22, 2025. The Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA) is thrilled to announce plans for the 2025 season of “Horn in the West”®. As repairs by the Town of Boone will be underway at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater, this year’s performance will be held in the mini-amphitheater area located at Hickory Ridge History Museum, fondly known as “Hickory Ridge Homestead”. HORN will be celebrating our heritage with a return to our historical roots as a fully community-based production, using a local cast. The drama will run for 4 weeks, 3 nights a week, and will be staged in and amongest the cabins for an immersive audience experience. Clarinda Ross is a celebrated professional actor, director, and playwright whose deep local ties and national accolades make her a perfect fit to helm this community-driven performance.

January 16, 2025. The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) is excited to announce the finalists for this year’s upcoming 22nd Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) exhibition. With over 500 images submitted by 76 artists, jurors selected 47 photographs to embody the theme “Making Kin: Belonging & Longing in Appalachia”. The 22nd AMPC exhibition will open Friday, February 7, 2025 with a public reception that evening. People’s Choice voting will take place in-person in the gallery, and the winner will be announced at the private Awards Reception on March 22.

January 9, 2025. A new exhibition entitled “Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn” will open at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) on February 15, 2025, and will be on view in the Museum’s Atwell Gallery through August 10, 2025. Sarah Vaughn’s “Considerations” invites visitors to step into a landscape of thousands of carefully crafted glass river rocks. Made using techniques like blowing, flame-working, casting, and laminating, these fragile stones are stacked and arranged to create an immersive installation that explores how we experience and remember the world around us. Each glass rock represents a moment in time—some tied to personal memories, others shaped from reclaimed glass, blending stories of loss and creation.

January 3, 2025 Noted and influential International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning artists Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz will bring their extraordinary talents to the Jones House Cultural Center on Friday, January 17, 2025, for a special evening of music and storytelling. The event begins with a free songwriting workshop at 5:00 PM, where Stafford and Jutz will share their expertise and insights into the art of songwriting. Following the workshop, the evening culminates in an intimate concert at 7:30 PM, showcasing their evocative songs and masterful musicianship. With only 40 seats available, this exclusive performance promises a one-of-a-kind experience.

WNC Artists! Apply for HEAR: A New Residency Project in Response to Hurricane Helene

December 31, 2024. In response to the devestating impact of Helene on so many regional artists, Trillium Arts recently launched a new project, Helene Emergency Artists Residencies (HEAR) for artists residing in Western North Carolina. Trillium Arts will offer four HEAR awards in early 2025, at no cost to the artists. In fact, awarded artists will receive a $700 relief stipend, along with free housing, supplies and a nurturing creative environment. Western North Carolina artists of all disciplines substantially impacted by Hurricane Helene are invited to apply. This regional residency is open to arts professionals 18 years or older who reside in the 26 counties in Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene.

December 16, 2024 The Liar’s Bench of historic downtown Lansing North Carolina presents the Liar’s Loft, art exhibition and pop up winter shop. Featuring a variety of artwork, including paintings, photography, and handmade items from 12 different local artists. The majority of the works will have a connection to Hurricane Helene and the impact it has had in Western North Carolina. Many pieces will be available for purchase or through silent auction with each artist selecting a percentage to be donated to a cause of their choice. The grand opening night will be 4pm, December 19 at 134 S. Big Horse Creek Road, with the show running for 2 months.

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Announces New Exhibition Featuring Watauga County Art Educators; Opening Reception on December 5

December 4, 2024 The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) is delighted to announce a new exhibition celebrating the creativity and vision of Watauga County art educators. This special showcase is entitled “High Country Visions: Watauga K-12 Educator,” and will be on view in the Museum’s Alexander Community Gallery December 5 through December 29, 2024. The community is invited to a reception to celebrate the opening on Thursday, December 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Museum. Highlighting the artistic contributions of local educators, this exhibition will feature works by Alyssia Ruggiero, Ashley Tate, Courtney McWhorter, Dacia Trethewey, Elle Lowry, Genal West, Kelly Blake, Lindsey Postlethwait and Lori Hill.

November 26, 2024 Downtown Boone will be aglow with holiday spirit as the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts invites the community to its Winter Exhibition Celebration on Friday, December 6th, 2024, from 5–8 PM. This special evening, held in conjunction with Festive First Friday, promises an unforgettable experience filled with art, music, and holiday cheer. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the artists, explore six galleries of thought-provoking art, and enjoy holiday refreshments while listening to live music by the acclaimed Pansy Club Band.

November 21, 2024 The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will host three Pop-Up Art and Craft Fairs to help support area artisans who are recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath of the storm, many fall events across the High Country were canceled, leading to a significant loss of income for local artisans. The upcoming small fairs at BRAHM will provide artisans an opportunity to partially recover lost revenue and reconnect with the community during the holiday season.

November 13, 2024. Celebrating their 10th Anniversary, having experienced sold out performances at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, “A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas” returns to the venerable, state-of-the-art facility with an expanded performance schedule of four public performances and an additional performance at the Ashe Civic Center with an encore family event to enhance their standing as the region’s newest must-see family holiday tradition. This stage spectacular takes audience members on new adventures and dancers tap dance their way from the Arctic glaciers of the North Pole to the city streets of Manhattan in New York City with a cast of 30 new, emerging, and established artists gracing the App Theatre stage in a series of elaborately choreographed works.

November 13, 2024. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will open the newly reimagined Ginny Stevens Gallery: Blowing Rock, A History on Saturday, November 16. This immersive exhibition celebrates the town of Blowing Rock’s rich history and features an extraordinary new highlight: a 1-to-87 scale diorama of the Mayview Manor Hotel, crafted by renowned Charlotte-based realist painter and diorama artist Dan Nance.

+ More Articles

Banner House Museum Announces Hours, Tours, and Tickets for Summer 2025

“Daingerfield & The Tonalist Instinct” to Open May 31 at BRAHM

BRAHM Announces Theme and Call for Submission for “ARS POETICA III: A Juried Exhibition” with June 13th Deadline

7th annual Blue Ridge Fiber Fest to be held in Sparta, NC on June 6 & 7 at Higgins Fairgrounds

Nunsense Musical Comes to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church June 1st, 3rd and 4th

New Art Classes Announced at the Watauga Arts Council through November

Project Dance Foundation Launches CAMP OF THE ARTS: A New Multidisciplinary Summer Program for Boone’s Youth

From Student to Studio Renter: Alumni Ashlynd Scovato Takes on Art After Graduation

Latest Updates for FloydFest 25~Aurora Music Festival Taking Place July 23 to 27 in Check, Va

An Appalachian Summer Announces Lineup for 2025 Season June 28-July 26

Seventh in a Series: The History of Springhaven Inn: 1977, 1978

Watauga Arts Council Teams Up with Blue Ridge Fiber Guild to Announce “Intro to Fiber” Workshop Series for 2025

March 1-2, 2025 Barn Quilt Painting Workshop to be Held at the Watauga Arts Council

The Schaefer Center Presents Series Opens Spring Season with Ballet Hispánico’s CARMEN.maquia

Southern Appalachian Historical Association Announces Theatre Director for “Horn in the West”® 2025 Season – Boone Native Clarinda Ross

22nd Appalachian Mountain Photography Announces Finalists; Exhibition Opens Feb. 7

“Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn” to Open February 15 at BRAHM

Award-Winning Songwriters Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz to Perform at the Historic Jones House Friday, January 17

WNC Artists! Apply for HEAR: A New Residency Project in Response to Hurricane Helene

The Liar’s Bench in Lansing Presents the Liar’s Loft, Art Exhibition

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Announces New Exhibition Featuring Watauga County Art Educators; Opening Reception on December 5

Turchin Center Hosts Winter Exhibition Celebration During Festive First Friday Dec. 6

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Hosts Pop-Up Art and Craft Fairs to Support Local Artisans Affected by Hurricane Helene

“A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas” Returns December 6 – 8 & 14, 2024 Expanded Schedule, 10th Anniversary Edition Awaits App Theatre & Ashe Civic Center Audiences

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum and Blowing Rock Historical Society Unveil Plans for Reimagined Ginny Stevens Gallery: Blowing Rock, A History