Appalachian State University / The Arts and Humanities

Art for Life

The Arts and Humanities at Appalachian

Appalachian 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. Appalachian’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 and Lunch & Learn
- Martin & Doris Rosen Summer Symposium
- Humanities Council 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

Jun
5
to
Nov
7
Matrilinear: Elizabeth M. Claffey
Jun 5 - Nov 7, 2020
Elizabeth M. Claffey’s work is both cross-disciplinary in nature and aimed at starting conversations within the community. She uses visual art as a catalyst for storytelling and to express the knowledge of people often under-recognized within the public sphere. Claffey’s projects examine cultural and social context, engage in community dialogue, and encourage critical inquiry.
Jun
5
to
Nov
7
Unequal Scenes: Johnny Miller
Jun 5 - Nov 7, 2020
“Unequal Scenes” uses a drone to illustrate the inscribed history of the world in a new way. The scars within our urban fabric, so apparent from above, can provoke a sense of surprise, at the same time they reveal our complicity in systematic disenfranchisement.
Sep
18
to
20
GuitarFest
Hayes School of Music
September 18 - 20, 2020
The 25th Annual Appalachian GuitarFest and Solo Guitar Competition will feature workshops, masterclasses and concerts including performances by Dale Kavanaugh and Rene Izquierdo. Rescheduled from March 20 – 22, 2020.
Oct
2
Fall Exhibition Celebration
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
October 2, 2020
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Several times a year, to celebrate new exhibitions, the Turchin Center invites the public inside after hours, to “engage, discover and connect through the arts.” It’s an opportunity for art lovers to meet the artists, have some food and enjoy a cocktail while wandering one of the most exciting venues in town: a collection of seven galleries filled with a diverse mix of contemporary art from local, regional, national and international artists.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Jan
24
to
Sep
5
Lian 連 Lian 鏈 – An installation by Hui Chi Lee
Jan 24 - Sep 5, 2020
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
People are by nature social beings. People need other people to survive, and as such they tend to perpetually seek social interactions. However, human relationships are inherently complex and multi-faceted. The ideology of the series, Lián 連 and Liàn 鏈 begins with a pair of Chinese homophones “Lián 連 and Liàn 鏈” that, depending on the context, mean either “to connect” or “to enchain.”
Jun
5
to
Nov
7
Unequal Scenes: Johnny Miller
Jun 5 - Nov 7, 2020
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
“Unequal Scenes” uses a drone to illustrate the inscribed history of the world in a new way. The scars within our urban fabric, so apparent from above, can provoke a sense of surprise, at the same time they reveal our complicity in systematic disenfranchisement.
Jun
5
to
Nov
7
Matrilinear: Elizabeth M. Claffey
Jun 5 - Nov 7, 2020
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
Elizabeth M. Claffey’s work is both cross-disciplinary in nature and aimed at starting conversations within the community. She uses visual art as a catalyst for storytelling and to express the knowledge of people often under-recognized within the public sphere. Claffey’s projects examine cultural and social context, engage in community dialogue, and encourage critical inquiry.
Sep
18
to
20
GuitarFest
Hayes School of Music
September 18 - 20, 2020
The 25th Annual Appalachian GuitarFest and Solo Guitar Competition will feature workshops, masterclasses and concerts including performances by Dale Kavanaugh and Rene Izquierdo. Rescheduled from March 20 – 22, 2020.

View more arts and humanities events

News

Off-loom and online — App State art professor creatively approaches studio class
May 8, 2020
A move to online instruction due to COVID-19 prompted Appalachian art professor Jeana Klein and her students to think outside the loom regarding materials used in their weaving projects. Horsehair and ladies’ tights are among some of the unconventional items used.
App State seniors pivot to finish movie production while socially distanced
May 8, 2020
The original, student-produced movie “Where You Should Be” follows four Appalachian broadcasting students and the uncertainty they face with graduation looming. Read how the movie’s creators — three graduating Appalachian seniors — finished the movie in the face of COVID-19 restrictions.
App State sophomore wins top prize in 2019–20 Otto Zenke Student Design Competition
April 23, 2020
Sophomore Isaac Wood, an interior design major at Appalachian, has won the top prize — a $1,000 scholarship — in the 2019–20 Otto Zenke Student Design Competition for North and South Carolina students. Appalachian’s applied design program received a matching $1,000 prize.
Turn the channel to AppTV — the Best College TV Station of 2020
April 3, 2020
Appalachian’s student-run media outlets — The Appalachian newspaper, The App (WASU-FM 90.5) radio station and AppTV — were recognized for excellence in communication at the 80th annual Intercollegiate Broadcast System International Media Conference held March 6–8 in New York City.