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

Upcoming events

Jan
28
“Mindfulness and Mental Health” with Dr. Cuong Mai and Dr. Matt Ruble
Philosophy and Religious Studies in the Contemporary World
January 28, 2026
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Dr. Cuong Mai, associate professor of religious studies, specializes in the religions of Asia, particularly the history of Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhism. Dr. Matt Ruble, senior lecturer in philosophy, specializes in medical ethics and the philosophy of mental health.
Feb
6
February Fizzy First Friday – Spring Exhibition Celebration
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
February 6, 2026
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Kick off your weekend with art, friends and fun at Fizzy First Friday and Spring Exhibition Celebration — free and open to everyone. With the opening of two exhibitions, activities will include two ARTtalks, drop-in artmaking, the 23rd Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition Awards and a DJ set featuring Ty Murray/DJ Soularia. Mingle with talented artists, explore contemporary art including the opening of new exhibitions and catch up with friends, old and new.
Feb
14
Margo Price
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
February 14, 2026
7:30 pm
For nearly a decade, Margo Price has created a lane where independent-minded, insurgent country music can exist and thrive alongside the mainstream. Now she’s back with an exquisite, timeless album that reconnects with her roots. At its core, Hard Headed Woman is about that furious instinct to never waver — especially when our values and future are so clearly on the line. It’s country music as only Price can make it: free of rules, cherishing tradition, hard headed but with a delicate beating heart.
Feb
20
Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
February 20, 2026
7:30 pm
For over 50 years, Ailey II – The Next Generation of Dance – has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Dec
5
to
May
2
Dear Body of Water: Gretchen Ernster Henderson
Dec 5, 2025 - May 2, 2026
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
Pause to reorient yourself to water. Consider the source: replenishing Boone, Watauga County, North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Southeastern United States. Waterways have written and rewritten this living waterscape, called by many names over time. The headwaters of the ancient New River were born millions of years ago and have flowed through countless human lifetimes. Water inscribes the landscape as a story that pools and spills and splashes in and out of range of human understandings.
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).
Jan
28
to
Apr
8
Philosophy and Religious Studies in the Contemporary World
High Country Humanties and Department of Philosophy and Religion
Jan 28 - Apr 8, 2026
The series explores philosophical questions relevant to our daily lives. This series is free and open to the public.

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.