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The Arts at Appalachian

The Russian National Ballet on the stage of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Photo: Troy Tuttle

Art for Life: All across our campus, Appalachian presents diverse and vibrant arts programs that enrich the cultural and intellectual climate of the campus and region.

Arts Events & Venues

Join us for an event or exhibition — you can find one nearly every day of the year, for nearly every age level and interest.

Arts as Curriculum

The arts offer innovative ways to learn about the world. Appalachian's academic arts programs are varied and diverse, and students have many opportunities to experience, interpret, understand, record and shape culture through the arts at Appalachian.

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Arts Calendar

Find out about upcoming arts and cultural events at Appalachian.

Plan your visit

Tier 2000
by Ann Melanie
From the Rosen Outdoor Scuplture Exhibition

Find your Art at the Turchin Center

Bale Folclorico comes to App and watch what happens!

Arts Calendar

Jun
25
TCVA Workshop: International Art
June 25, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Campers will grab their passports and travel around the world to experience cultural history and international art. The trip starts in Panama, then travels south to Brazil, across the ocean to Ghana, Ukraine, Middle East, India, China, Australia, Fiji and will finish in the state of Alaska.
Jun
26
TCVA Workshop: International Art
June 26, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Campers will grab their passports and travel around the world to experience cultural history and international art. The trip starts in Panama, then travels south to Brazil, across the ocean to Ghana, Ukraine, Middle East, India, China, Australia, Fiji and will finish in the state of Alaska.
Jun
26
Contemporary with Celia Thurman
June 26, 2018
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
An Appalachian alum and current dancer, choreographer and aerialist from Asheville, Celia will offer an intermediate level contemporary class with ballet influence. Students will focus on proper technique, release, alignment, musicality, extension and improvisation.
Jun
27
TCVA Workshop: International Art
June 27, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Campers will grab their passports and travel around the world to experience cultural history and international art. The trip starts in Panama, then travels south to Brazil, across the ocean to Ghana, Ukraine, Middle East, India, China, Australia, Fiji and will finish in the state of Alaska.
Jun
27
Hip-Hop Improv and freestyle with Elijah Grady
June 27, 2018
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm
A senior at Appalachian, Elijah is a dancer, choreographer and the outgoing president Entropy dance club. He will take the participants through the mechanics of several movements by breaking each part down slowly to understand how stylistic elements are performed.
Jun
28
TCVA Workshop: International Art
June 28, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Campers will grab their passports and travel around the world to experience cultural history and international art. The trip starts in Panama, then travels south to Brazil, across the ocean to Ghana, Ukraine, Middle East, India, China, Australia, Fiji and will finish in the state of Alaska.
Jun
28
Brazilian Martial Art: Capoeira with Gabrielle Motta-Passajou
June 28, 2018
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm
A senior lecturer in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Gabrielle has been sharing her passion for Capoeira on campus and the local community for the past 15 years. Capoeira is best described as a dance-fight which combines rhythm, singing and acrobatics with kicks and dodges.
Jun
29
TCVA Workshop: International Art
June 29, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Campers will grab their passports and travel around the world to experience cultural history and international art. The trip starts in Panama, then travels south to Brazil, across the ocean to Ghana, Ukraine, Middle East, India, China, Australia, Fiji and will finish in the state of Alaska.
Jun
30
Theatre Bus Trip to Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: “Bright Star”
June 30, 2018
10:30 am - 9:00 pm
An Appalachian Summer Festival is hitting the road and setting its sights for Charlotte! Join us for a matinee performance of the five-time Tony nominated Broadway musical “Bright Star.”
Jul
1
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: “Where in the World? Part 1”
July 1, 2018
8:00 pm
Every summer, violinist Gil Morgenstern, artistic director of the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and its international Reflections Series, assembles several of the nation’s most exciting and highly acclaimed chamber musicians for a remarkable concert series.
Jul
1
to
Aug
4
An Appalachian Summer Festival
Summer 2018
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 a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming.
Jul
2
Young People’s Global Film Series: “Amazonia”
July 2, 2018
1:00 pm
After a small plane crash, Saï, a capuchin monkey born and raised in captivity, finds himself alone and lost in the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest.
Jul
3
Weicholz Global Film Series: “In Between (Bar Bahar)”
July 3, 2018
7:00 pm
Three very different Palestinian women living together in an apartment in Tel Aviv try to find the balance between tradition and modernity, citizenship and culture, duty and freedom.
Jul
5
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: “Songs with (and without) Words”
July 5, 2018
8:00 pm
Every summer, violinist Gil Morgenstern, artistic director of the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and its international Reflections Series, assembles several of the nation’s most exciting and highly acclaimed chamber musicians for a remarkable concert series.
Jul
6
to
Dec
8
Art from Down Under: Australia to New Zealand
Jul 6 - Dec 8, 2018
Each of the Turchin Center's international biennial exhibitions reveal the importance of the visual arts in bearing witness to other cultures, other places, and, often, other racial and ethnic groups not typically represented in our local communities across the Appalachian region. What unites all peoples is the fundamental instinct to tell stories.
Jul
6
to
Jan
12
The Persistence of Weeds: Hannah Cole
Jul 6, 2018 - Jan 12, 2019
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts welcomes Hannah Cole: “My paintings are at once rooted in the unique experiences of my own life, and in conversation with the larger history of American painting.”
Jul
6
to
Jan
12
The Elephantine in the Anthropocene: Kelsey Merreck Wagner
Jul 6, 2018 - Jan 12, 2019
“The Elephantine in the Anthropocene” will explore historic hunting practices in African countries as linked to the ivory trade in Asia, and how modern conservation is working to save the species.
Jul
6
TCVA Summer Exhibition Celebration
July 6, 2018
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.
Jul
7
Kool & the Gang
July 7, 2018
7:30 pm
Kool & the Gang have influenced the music of three generations. Thanks to songs like Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness and Open Sesame, they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. Kool & the Gang has performed continuously for the past 43 years, longer than any R&B group in history.
Jul
9
Young People’s Global Film Series: “Swallows and Amazons”
July 9, 2018
1:00 pm
Based on the international best-selling children's classic by Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazons details the summer vacation adventures of the Walker family in 1930.
Jul
9
TCVA Workshop: Mixed Media Mania
July 9, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Mix it up with mixed media mania! Students will create art with a multitude of mediums including paper, paint, pastels and printmaking to create treasure boxes, masks, portraits, altered books and mosaics. The class will also include art criticism and art history.
Jul
10
TCVA Workshop: Mixed Media Mania
July 10, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Mix it up with mixed media mania! Students will create art with a multitude of mediums including paper, paint, pastels and printmaking to create treasure boxes, masks, portraits, altered books and mosaics. The class will also include art criticism and art history.
Jul
10
TCVA Workshop: Metalsmithing 101
July 10, 2018
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Metalsmithing 101 will introduce students to the basics of metal working including technical skills, building and problem solving. Emphasis will be on the fundamentals of working with hand tools to gain proficiency in sawing, riveting, soldering, simple forming and finishing techniques.
Jul
10
Weicholz Global Film Series: “In The Fade (Aus dem Nichts)”
July 10, 2018
7:00 pm
Katie’s life falls apart after the death of her Turkish husband and German-born young son in a bomb attack. After a period of mourning, the grieving woman searches for the perpetrators of this senseless killing.
Jul
11
TCVA Lunch & Learn: A Walk With the Curators: Mary Anne Redding and Kelsey Wagner
July 11, 2018
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
The arts tell stories in many ways and from many perspectives, providing individual aesthetic expression that begins with the artist and is carried through each viewer – a seductive and eloquent articulation of place, of time, and of identity – a harbinger of visual culture.
Jul
11
TCVA Workshop: Mixed Media Mania
July 11, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Mix it up with mixed media mania! Students will create art with a multitude of mediums including paper, paint, pastels and printmaking to create treasure boxes, masks, portraits, altered books and mosaics. The class will also include art criticism and art history.
Jul
11
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
July 11, 2018
8:00 pm
With its bold vision, groundbreaking repertoire and virtuoso dancers, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is known as one of the country’s preeminent touring contemporary ballet companies. The performance includes Jiri Kylian’s emotional “Return to a Strange Land,” Fernando Melo’s floor work “Dream Play” and Cayetano Soto’s playful “Huma Rojo.”
Jul
12
TCVA Workshop: Mixed Media Mania
July 12, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Mix it up with mixed media mania! Students will create art with a multitude of mediums including paper, paint, pastels and printmaking to create treasure boxes, masks, portraits, altered books and mosaics. The class will also include art criticism and art history.
Jul
12
I'm With Her
July 12, 2018
8:00 pm
Collectively, the multi-Grammy award-winners have released seven solo efforts, co-founded two seminal bands (Nickel Creek and Crooked Still), and contributed to critically acclaimed albums from a host of esteemed artists. I’m With Her’s full-length debut album “See You Around” showcases their unique blend of instrumental interplay combined with breathtaking harmonies.
Jul
13
TCVA Workshop: Mixed Media Mania
July 13, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Mix it up with mixed media mania! Students will create art with a multitude of mediums including paper, paint, pastels and printmaking to create treasure boxes, masks, portraits, altered books and mosaics. The class will also include art criticism and art history.
Jul
14
TCVA Workshop: Toddler Power Hour
July 14, 2018
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Explore art through engaging hands-on activities with sculpture, painting, story time and more! Students will gain confidence in self-expression and artistic exploration while learning about color, texture and shapes.
Jul
14
TCVA Workshop: Creative Kids Studio
July 14, 2018
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Be inspired and create colorful memories! Students will learn new skills as they create sculpture, drawing and painting, using a wide variety of materials.
Jul
14
Shaken & Stirred: Michael Feinstein and special guest Storm Large
July 14, 2018
8:00 pm
Five-time Grammy Award-nominated Michael Feinstein joins forces with vocalist Storm Large to present an unforgettable evening of music. Accompanied by a 5-piece band with music ranging from the Great American Songbook to the music of the James Bond and Mad Men era, Michael and Storm will delight you with their brilliant singing and amusing anecdotes.
Jul
15
Eastern Festival Orchestra featuring Misha Dichter
July 15, 2018
3:00 pm
Under the direction of Maestro Gerard Schwarz, the Eastern Festival Orchestra returns to the festival for an afternoon of symphonic music featuring pianist Misha Dichter and violinist Eva Wetzel. The program includes works by Bernstein, Griffes, Gershwin and Ravel.
Jul
16
Young People’s Global Film Series: “Viva Cuba”
July 16, 2018
1:00 pm
Malú and Jorgito are best friends whose close bond is threatened by their parents' differences. When the children learn that Malú's mother is planning to leave Cuba forever, they decide to run away to the other side of the island.
Jul
17
TCVA Workshop: Metalsmithing 101
July 17, 2018
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Metalsmithing 101 will introduce students to the basics of metal working including technical skills, building and problem solving. Emphasis will be on the fundamentals of working with hand tools to gain proficiency in sawing, riveting, soldering, simple forming and finishing techniques.
Jul
17
Weicholz Global Film Series: “A Fantastic Woman (Una Mujer Fantastica)”
July 17, 2018
7:00 pm
Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, faces scorn and discrimination after the sudden death of her older boyfriend.
Jul
18
TCVA Lunch & Learn: Collaboration and the Creative Process: Noyes Capehart and Peter Petschauer
July 18, 2018
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Writer and collector Peter Petschauer teams up with artist-writer Noyes Capehart for this fun and fascinating glimpse into the process of writing novels and poetry, while exploring the ways in which collaboration can create a stronger and more meaningful artistic outcome.
Jul
18
Hayes School of Music Faculty Recital: “Iconic, Intimate and Innovative”
July 18, 2018
8:00 pm
The Hayes School of Music Faculty presents a program that explores chamber music that ranges in style from the iconic piano wind quintet of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the intimate art songs of Franz Schubert, to the innovative work for clarinet and electronic music of Judith Shatin. An evening of music that ranges in historical style from the Classical Period to Jazz offers a special treat for every listener.
Jul
20
NC Black Repertory Company: “The Legend of Buster Neal”
July 20, 2018
2:00 pm
“The Legend of Buster Neal” tells the story of four generations of African American men and the challenges faced by each generation within the same family. This powerful drama questions the true definition of manhood and examines the meaning of legacy, friendship and fatherhood.
Jul
20
NC Black Repertory Company: “The Legend of Buster Neal”
July 20, 2018
8:00 pm
“The Legend of Buster Neal” tells the story of four generations of African American men and the challenges faced by each generation within the same family. This powerful drama questions the true definition of manhood and examines the meaning of legacy, friendship and fatherhood.
Jul
21
The Hot Sardines
July 21, 2018
8:00 pm
“One of the best jazz bands in New York today” (Forbes) makes its debut at Schaefer Center where they transport the audience to New York speakeasies, Parisian cabarets, and New Orleans jazz halls. Fueled by the belief that classic jazz feeds the heart and soul, the Hot Sardines are on a mission to make old sound new again with their brassy arrangements, rollicking piano melodies and smoky vocals.
Jul
22
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: “Where in the World? Part 2”
July 22, 2018
8:00 pm
Every summer, violinist Gil Morgenstern, artistic director of the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and its international Reflections Series, assembles several of the nation’s most exciting and highly acclaimed chamber musicians for a remarkable concert series.
Jul
23
Young People’s Global Film Series: “Wunderkinder”
July 23, 2018
1:00 pm
“Wunderkinder” tells a tale of three musically gifted children, who develop a deep and genuine friendship despite their different religions and nationalities. When the Nazis invade the Soviet Union, their families face mortal peril and their world is suddenly turned upside down.
Jul
23
TCVA Workshop: Trash Art
July 23, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is all about TRASH! Have a blast creating fun works of art using recyclables including water bottles, bottle caps, grocery bags, zip ties, plastic lids, cereal boxes and so much more!
Jul
24
TCVA Workshop: Trash Art
July 24, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is all about TRASH! Have a blast creating fun works of art using recyclables including water bottles, bottle caps, grocery bags, zip ties, plastic lids, cereal boxes and so much more!
Jul
24
TCVA Workshop: Metalsmithing 101
July 24, 2018
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Metalsmithing 101 will introduce students to the basics of metal working including technical skills, building and problem solving. Emphasis will be on the fundamentals of working with hand tools to gain proficiency in sawing, riveting, soldering, simple forming and finishing techniques.
Jul
24
Weicholz Global Film Series: “Summer 1993 (Estiu 1993)”
July 24, 2018
7:00 pm
In the summer of 1993, following the death of her parents, six-year-old Frida moves from Barcelona to the Catalan province to live with her aunt and uncle, who are now her new legal guardians. The country life is a challenge for Frida – time passes differently in her new home and the nature that surrounds her is mysterious and estranging.
Jul
25
TCVA Lunch & Learn: Forbidden Sounds: The Suppression of Music in Nazi Germany
July 25, 2018
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Presented by Dr. Racelle R Weiman, Holocaust scholar, educator, filmmaker and co-director of Appalachian State University's 2018 Martin & Doris Rosen Summer Symposium on the Holocaust.
Jul
25
TCVA Workshop: Trash Art
July 25, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is all about TRASH! Have a blast creating fun works of art using recyclables including water bottles, bottle caps, grocery bags, zip ties, plastic lids, cereal boxes and so much more!
Jul
25
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: “An Evening with Old Friends”
July 25, 2018
8:00 pm
Every summer, violinist Gil Morgenstern, artistic director of the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and its international Reflections Series, assembles several of the nation’s most exciting and highly acclaimed chamber musicians for a remarkable concert series.
Jul
26
TCVA Workshop: Trash Art
July 26, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is all about TRASH! Have a blast creating fun works of art using recyclables including water bottles, bottle caps, grocery bags, zip ties, plastic lids, cereal boxes and so much more!
Jul
26
Rhiannon Giddens
July 26, 2018
8:00 pm
Co-founding member of the Grammy award-winning string band Carolina Chocolate Drops and recipient of the 2017 MacArthur Fellow Genius Grant, Rhiannon Giddens masterfully blends gospel, jazz, blues, and country showcasing her extraordinary emotional range and dazzling vocal prowess. Her solo album Freedom Highway is among NPR Music and Rolling Stone’s best albums of 2017.
Jul
27
TCVA Workshop: Trash Art
July 27, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is all about TRASH! Have a blast creating fun works of art using recyclables including water bottles, bottle caps, grocery bags, zip ties, plastic lids, cereal boxes and so much more!
Jul
28
TCVA Workshop: Toddler Power Hour
July 28, 2018
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Explore art through engaging hands-on activities with sculpture, painting, story time and more! Students will gain confidence in self-expression and artistic exploration while learning about color, texture and shapes.
Jul
28
TCVA Workshop: Creative Kids Studio
July 28, 2018
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Be inspired and create colorful memories! Students will learn new skills as they create sculpture, drawing and painting, using a wide variety of materials.
Jul
28
BODYTRAFFIC
July 28, 2018
8:00 pm
Named “the company of the future” by The Joyce Theater Foundation, Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch and Best of Culture by the Los Angeles Times, BODYTRAFFIC has surged to the forefront of the concert dance world.
Jul
29
Rosen-Schaffel Competition
July 29, 2018
3:00 pm
The festival, in partnership with the Hayes School of Music, proudly presents the eighth season of the highly acclaimed Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young & Emerging Artists. In the final live round of the competition, a panel of symphony conductors will select a First Place, Second Place and Third Place Winner and the competition audience will select an Audience Choice Award Winner.
Jul
30
Young People’s Global Film Series: “Jasper Jones”
July 30, 2018
1:00 pm
Adapted from the award-winning young adult novel of the same name, Jasper Jones is a moving coming-of-age story about Charlie Bucktin.
Jul
30
Live eTown Radio Show Taping
July 30, 2018
8:00 pm
This special event showcases eTown, an exciting radio broadcast/podcast heard weekly across the country and worldwide, hosted by radio personalities Helen & Nick Forster. This special live radio show taping will feature a memorable evening of great music along with on-stage interviews with the artists and the presentation of the eChievement Award to an outstanding volunteer who’s made a real difference in their community and beyond. Special musical guests for this eTown live radio show are Josh Ritter and Mandolin Orange.
Jul
31
TCVA Workshop: Metalsmithing 101
July 31, 2018
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Metalsmithing 101 will introduce students to the basics of metal working including technical skills, building and problem solving. Emphasis will be on the fundamentals of working with hand tools to gain proficiency in sawing, riveting, soldering, simple forming and finishing techniques.
Jul
31
Weicholz Global Film Series: “Paradise (Ray)”
July 31, 2018
7:00 pm
Olga, an aristocratic emigrant who escaped the Russian revolution to become a member of the French resistance, is arrested for hiding Jewish children. Her fate lies in the hands of two men: an opportunistic French collaborator and a high ranking German SS officer with whom she shares a glorious past.
Aug
1
TCVA Lunch & Learn: AppSummer Book and Film Club: Dr. John Pfeifer
August 1, 2018
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Presented in conjunction with the Weicholz Global Film Series as part of An Appalachian Summer Festival, attendees will have the opportunity to read and discuss From the Land of the Moon.
Aug
4
Kristin Chenoweth
August 4, 2018
8:00 pm
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth makes her debut on the Schaefer Center stage to perform an array of her most memorable songs and Broadway tunes, including music from Wicked, Promises Promises, and Glee.

News

Appalachian student awarded honorable mention in international lighting design competition
June 1, 2018
Rising senior Ally Mangini, an interior design major at Appalachian, was recognized in the 41st annual SOURCE Awards competition for her restaurant design titled “A Cultural ‘Twist’ on Turkish Cuisine.”
Recent Appalachian graduate awarded $15K Windgate Fellowship
May 25, 2018
Appalachian alumna Dani Iris ’18 is one of 10 students nationwide to receive a Windgate Fellowship from the Center for Craft in Asheville, North Carolina. Iris is the first Appalachian student to be awarded the prestigious fellowship.
Appalachian’s apparel design and merchandising program presents ‘Showcase 2018’
May 21, 2018
Students and faculty in Appalachian State University’s apparel design and merchandising program bring designs to “Showcase 2018” runway.
Appalachian’s Common Reading Program announces 2018-19 selection
February 16, 2018
“The Laramie Project,” a play about the community of Laramie, Wyoming, following the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998, is Appalachian’s 2018-19 Common Reading Program selection for first-year students.