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

Jun
28
to
30
Professional Development Opportunity: Teaching Climate Change Through Picturebooks
Mathematics and Science Education Center
June 28 - 30, 2022
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Join the Mathematics and Science Education Center this summer as they explore how to teach about climate change using picture books and exploratory learning. Partnering with faculty across campus to explore key issues such as flooding, bee habitats, and preserving plants, teachers will explore how to teach their fourth through sixth graders about the complexities of climate change and how it impacts their lives and communities.
Jul
1
to
30
An Appalachian Summer Festival
July 1 - 30, 2022
Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts & Cultural Programs, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every July in venues across the university campus, and features an eclectic, diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming.
Jul
24
to
28
2022 Graphic Communications Education Association Summer Conference
July 24 - 28, 2022
Enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains by attending the 97th GCEA Conference on the campus of Appalachian State University. The Thomas W. Reese Graphic Communications Management Program is the host for this year’s Graphic Communications Education Association Summer Conference. If you have a passion for graphic communications education in any capacity this conference is for you!
Jul
24
Center Marks 20th Summer Symposium with Re-Evaluation of the Threats of Antisemitism by Renowned Holocaust Scholar Michael Berenbaum
Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies
July 24, 2022
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Prof. Michael Berenbaum, the director of the Sigi Ziering Institute and professor of Jewish Studies at American Jewish University, will examine “Anti-Judaism and Anti-Semitism in European History and Visual Culture” in an on-campus lecture that is open to the public. This program is part of this year's 20th Anniversary Martin and Doris Rosen Summer Symposium on “Remembering the Holocaust.”

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Jun
3
to
Nov
5
Art Department Faculty Biennial
Jun 3 - Nov 5, 2022
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
The Art Department Faculty Biennial Exhibition is a collaborative exhibition organized by the Smith Gallery and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. These non-juried exhibitions provide the campus and surrounding communities with an opportunity to engage with the ideas and practices being explored by the talented multidisciplinary visual arts educators at Appalachian State University.
May
23
to
May
14
36th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition
May 23, 2022 - May 14, 2023
Various campus locations
The Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition is a national juried competition presented annually by An Appalachian Summer Festival and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. Since its establishment by Martin and Doris Rosen in 1987, the Rosen Competition continues a tradition of showcasing contemporary American sculpture in outdoor settings across the beautiful campus of Appalachian State University.
Mar
4
to
Aug
27
Celestial: Dare Coulter
Mar 4 - Aug 27, 2022
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
With the universe as the source of inspiration, the Celestial exhibit is a series of figurative and abstract multimedia works that explore the metaphor of creation. The themes of space, stars and astrology will be cosmically swirled into an exhibit. During a three-week residency Coulter will work with select Appalachian State students to complete the site-specific installation in the Mayer Gallery.
Jul
1
to
30
An Appalachian Summer Festival
July 1 - 30, 2022
Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts & Cultural Programs, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every July in venues across the university campus, and features an eclectic, diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming.

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.