Appalachian State University / The Arts and Humanities

Art for Life

The Arts and Humanities at App State

App State presents vibrant arts and humanities programs that enrich the cultural and intellectual climate of the campus and region. Join us for an event, performance, exhibition or workshop — you can find one almost every day of the year, for nearly every age level and interest.

By the numbers

600+

arts and humanities events on campus annually
6

free student workshops each week at the Turchin Center
10

departments offer degree tracks in arts or humanities
14

exhibition and performance venues on campus
9,000+

children in grades K-12 attend free and low-cost school matinees each year
20+

countries recently featured in arts and humanities programming, including Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Brazil, Cuba, Ukraine, Germany, Israel, Chile, Spain, Russia, Poland, South Africa and France
80

students are employed annually within the arts and humanities
30+

Arts and Education Outreach Programs connect university arts resources to a diverse audience of community arts patrons, teachers and learners

The arts and humanities offer innovative ways to learn about the world. App State’s academic programs are varied and diverse, and students have many opportunities to experience, interpret, understand, record and shape culture.

Venues, programs and publications

Art Galleries and Special Collections
Cultural Centers and Programs
Music and Stage
Lecture Series
- The Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
- Turchin Center Art Talks
- Martin & Doris Rosen Summer Symposium
- Civil War Speaker Series
- DLLC Annual International Speaker Series
- Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies Lecture Series
Community Connections
Publications and Partnerships

Upcoming events

Oct
29
to
Nov
7
Orlando
Department of Theatre and Dance
Oct 29 - Nov 7, 2025
An adaptation of the “longest and most charming love letter in literature,” written by Virginia Woolf for her lover, Vita Sackville-West, “Orlando” is a theatrical, wild, fantastical trip through space, time and gender. Orlando’s adventures begin as a young man, when he serves as courtier to Queen Elizabeth. Adapted by Sarah Ruhl.
Nov
7
Dr. Derek Davidson: “Forum Theatre and Climate Response-Ability”
Climate Stories Collaborative
November 7, 2025
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
The Climate Stories Collaborative invites you to join us for a workshop on the intersections of theatre and climate solutions. We’ll learn about and practice the techniques of Forum Theatre, developed by Brazilian dramatist Augusto Boal to support communities in changemaking. Learn how to use easy, effective, and FUN theatre games to spur non-threatening and productive dialogue around difficult, sometimes controversial issues. These games can empower the participants and lead to positive action.
Nov
12
Kathryn Kirkpatrick
Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
November 12, 2025
6:00 pm
Kathryn Kirkpatrick is the author of eight collections of poetry, including three recipients of the NC Poetry Society’s Brockman-Campbell award. “The Fisher Queen: New and Selected Poems” (Salmon, 2019) received the NC Literary and Historical Society’s Roanoke-Chowan Poetry Prize. She has lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains for many years, where she teaches environmental literature, animal studies, Irish studies, and creative writing as Professor of English at App State.
Nov
12
Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
November 12, 2025
7:30 pm
“Afrique en Cirque” is a show by Yamoussa Bangoura, inspired by daily life in Guinea. This performance shares the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes and staging, it makes any theatre vibrate with energy and represents the strength, agility and life’s joys of young Africans. The audience will see acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora. Welcome to the universe of Kalabanté Productions, and prepare for an unforgettable journey.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Jul
3
to
Dec
6
Threading: Contemporary Art of Thailand
Jul 3 - Dec 6, 2025
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
It is a formidable undertaking to chart the immense variety of the artists working in a single country while doing justice to our goal of reflecting their unique cultural experiences through the visual arts. In every country the artists living and working there may not have been born there, and yet they call their adopted cities and countries home. The artists represented in “Threading: Contemporary Art from Thailand,” are primarily based in Bangkok and Saen Suk, Chon Buri, Thailand.
Nov
7
to
Apr
4
Telling of the Bees: Jake Eshelman
Nov 7, 2025 - Apr 4, 2026
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
What we have, we owe to bees. Among the most prolific pollinators on the planet, bees helped create and maintain the biodiverse ecosystems that made it possible for humanity to take root and grow. Over millions of years, our shared evolution has grown increasingly intertwined. And today, human activity is impacting wild and domesticated bee populations in unprecedented ways.
Nov
7
to
Apr
4
contributing structure: SR Lejeune
Nov 7, 2025 - Apr 4, 2026
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
“A floor” can be used to refer to a group of people, connected by their residence on the same level of a building. SR Lejeune (b. 1994, Boston, MA) is an artist currently based in Pine Plains, NY. They received a BA with High Honors from Oberlin College (2015), were a Core Fellow at the Penland School of Craft (2017-19) and hold an MFA in Sculpture from the Yale School of Art (2023).
Nov
17
to
21
International Education Week
Office of International Programs
November 17 - 21, 2025
International Education Week (IEW) at App State is an annual celebration of the global engagement that happens throughout the year through our clubs, courses, and conversations. Students, staff, faculty, and community members are encouraged to participate in programming throughout the week. IEW on the national level is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

View more arts and humanities events

News

App State and regional artists channel Helene’s impact into creative works of hope and healing
October 1, 2025
After Hurricane Helene, artists at App State and in the surrounding communities of Western North Carolina turned to creative expression for healing, hope and resilience. Learn about how they channeled the storm’s impact into creative works that included visual arts, music, writing and more.
App State spotlights achievements in research, scholarship and creative activities
2025 award recipients Tashakkori and Bell give keynotes at annual showcase
September 28, 2025
App State’s annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event, held Sept. 19, highlighted faculty research and creative endeavors and featured keynote speakers Dr. Rahman Tashakkori and Dr. Joby Bell — winners of the 2025 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.
App State researchers uncover hidden history at Fort Defiance
June 23, 2025
Ground-penetrating radar and App State interdisciplinary detective work have revealed 105 graves of enslaved people at Fort Defiance, adding new layers of history to the Lenoir-area landmark and confirming generations of family stories.
Appalachian Dance Ensemble marks half-century with over 500 original creative works, 5,700 participants
April 4, 2025
Since its inception in 1975, the Appalachian Dance Ensemble at App State has premiered over 500 original works — involving more than 5,700 students, faculty, guest artists and community members. Learn about the ensemble’s history and the people who have shaped it over the years.