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
- Civil War Speaker Series
- DLLC Annual International Speaker Series
- Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies Lecture Series
Community Connections
Publications and Partnerships

Upcoming events

Mar
28
to
29
y(OUR) Story
Wellness and Prevention Services
March 28 - 29, 2023
y(OUR) Story is a collaborative production hosted by Wellness & Prevention Services. Through partnering with actors, dancers, painters, poets and other artists, y(our) mental health journey will be shared. This event hopes to inspire those struggling with their mental health to not give up, and to bring conversation about mental health out of the shadows and into the light.
Mar
29
to
Apr
2
Spring Appalachian Dance Ensemble
Department of Theatre and Dance
Mar 29 - Apr 2, 2023
The 2023 spring concert is coordinated by Dance Studies Professor Susan Lutz and scheduled to include work by faculty members Marianne Adams, Regina Gulick and Lutz herself. Student choreographers creating new works for SADE will be announced at a later date.
Apr
1
to
27
Earth Month 2023
April 1 - 27, 2023
April 22 marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day. At App State, Mountaineers celebrate Earth Day every day through the university’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. The Office of Sustainability team, along with many other campus community members, has planned several events throughout the month of April for Mountaineers to get involved in campus and community sustainability efforts. Mark your calendar, bring a friend and help make our world a greener, cleaner place for all.
Apr
1
to
30
Diversity Celebration
April 1 - 30, 2023
The Diversity Celebration is a month-long showcase where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted, appreciated and celebrated. This annual campus-wide celebration also supports and enhances the university’s commitment to actively address the educational, economic, cultural and societal needs of the changing region, state, nation and world.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Jan
20
to
Jun
3
Say:Word, a site-specific installation by Renee Cloud & de’Angelo DIA
Jan 20 - Jun 3, 2023
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
“Say:Word” is visual dialogue between artists de’Angelo DIA and Renee Cloud. This multimedia collaboration is a hybrid of exhibits, Not Another Word and Dichotomy, used to examine misrepresentation, cultural appropriation, and the significance of cultivating your own narrative and distribution of those narratives. The artists’ visual and poetic words are a reflection of excavated intimate and public conversations, journal entries, and social media debates.
Dec
2
to
May
6
Altered Environments / Tidalectics: April Flanders, Guest Curator
Dec 2, 2022 - May 6, 2023
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
“Altered Environments,” curated by April Flanders, is a printmaking portfolio responding to the issue of marine bio invasions. The portfolio includes 23 national and international artists from diverse backgrounds, utilizing a wide range of styles and print techniques. Aquatic invasive species are a true threat to biodiversity around the world. Artists were encouraged to consider the many ecosystems that are currently under threat from marine bioinvaders.
Apr
1
to
30
Diversity Celebration
April 1 - 30, 2023
The Diversity Celebration is a month-long showcase where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted, appreciated and celebrated. This annual campus-wide celebration also supports and enhances the university’s commitment to actively address the educational, economic, cultural and societal needs of the changing region, state, nation and world.
Apr
1
to
27
Earth Month 2023
April 1 - 27, 2023
April 22 marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day. At App State, Mountaineers celebrate Earth Day every day through the university’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. The Office of Sustainability team, along with many other campus community members, has planned several events throughout the month of April for Mountaineers to get involved in campus and community sustainability efforts. Mark your calendar, bring a friend and help make our world a greener, cleaner place for all.

View more arts and humanities events

News

Cut from a different cloth: App State alumnus Mitch Purgason ’15 stitches his way to fashion’s forefront
February 14, 2022
Mountaineer alumnus Mitch Purgason ’15 stitches his way to award-winning success, designing custom clothing for professional athletes, executives and fashion influencers.
Pandemic experiences inspired Jeffrey Dean Foster’s latest album
September 24, 2021
Musician Jeffrey Dean Foster ’82, who formed his first band while a student at Appalachian State University, has released an album inspired by the pandemic.
App State and Cone Estate connection spans 100-plus years, yields academic and engagement opportunities
August 6, 2021
App State’s location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina opens avenues of academic and civic engagement particular to the area. The university’s partnership with the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock — spanning more than a century — is a good example.
App State students design and produce award-winning wine labels — cheers!
July 26, 2021
A new family of wines developed by App State students and faculty has an award-winning look, with labels designed and printed by students in the graphic communications management program. The labels won second place in the 2021 Phoenix Challenge — a college competition between graphic communications students across North America.