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

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
- 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

Sep
20
Appalachian Symphony Band/Appalachian Wind Ensemble: LIFT-OFF!
Hayes School of Music
September 20, 2024
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
In the first concert of the season, the bands - conducted by Dr. John Ross and Dr. Jason Gardner - present music including Symphony No. 3 by Vittorio Giannini and LIFT-OFF! by App State faculty composer Dr. Roger Zare. Zare’s piece was written when NASA was returning the Space Shuttle to flight in 2005 and is a celebration of human space exploration. The concert features solos by App State faculty Dr. Brady Spitz (marimba) and Dr. Jimmy Stokes (trumpet).
Sep
22
Folk Music as an Expression of Culture: Talks with Acoustic Demonstrations
High Country Humanities
September 22, 2024
2:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Join App State faculty members for folk music demonstrations and listen and learn to identify the defining characteristics of folk genres. Dr. Laurie Semmes will speak about the bandura, the national instrument of Ukraine, and Mark Freed will present on Appalachian folk music. Following these presentations, Dr. Jacob Kopcienski will lead an audience question-and-answer session. Free and open to the public.
Sep
22
National Hispanic Heritage Month Concert
Hayes School of Music
September 22, 2024
4:00 pm
The Hayes School of Music is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the history and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans. National Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long commemoration in 1968 during the presidency of Lyndon Johnson and later expanded to a month when it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. We continue to celebrate the rich musical heritage of the broader Spanish speaking world — Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Sep
24
Common Reading Program Keynote Address: An Evening with Author Hope Jahren
Common Reading Program
September 24, 2024
7:00 pm
The Common Reading Program is delighted to offer “The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here,” from acclaimed scientist and author Hope Jahren, as the university’s common reading book for the 2024-2025 academic year. In “The Story of More,” Jahren uses her signature engaging, accessible and sensible style to expand awareness and understanding of the causes and challenges of the climate crisis.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Sep
4
to
Nov
21
Colombian Film Festival
Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Sep 4 - Nov 21, 2024
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures will host the Colombian Film Festival on six evenings throughout the Fall 2024 semester. The films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles. The screenings are free and open to the public.
Aug
13
to
Sep
27
Welcome to App
Aug 13 - Sep 27, 2024
Welcome to App is an extension of summer orientation and is geared toward helping new students learn their way around campus, making friends and learning more about the university before classes start. The schedule includes programs that will help students feel comfortable and confident about life in and out of the classroom. Many of the events are just about making friends and having fun!
Jul
5
to
Dec
7
Congregations: Sarina Angell
Jul 5 - Dec 7, 2024
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
In Congregations, Sarina Angell gently guides us to look closely at her delicate artwork and then take that attention to detail out into the world, finding beauty in places we often overlook, collecting beauty and delight as pivot points to the devastating events that can otherwise consume our thoughts. Beauty is a powerful ally in an unjustly damaged world; beauty invites a visceral response, invites wonder, invites awe.
Oct
22
to
Dec
2
Voices and Votes: Democracy in America
Department of Government and Justice Studies
Oct 22 - Dec 2, 2024
“Voices and Votes” is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This Museum on Main Street adaptation will have many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games and additional footage, photos, and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.

View more arts and humanities events

News

App State Gospel Choir uplifts campus and local community through song
February 26, 2024
For nearly 50 years, the App State Gospel Choir has been uplifting the campus community through song in the Black religious tradition. According to alumni, the choir is a vehicle for cultural expression and a welcoming family that provides a sense of home.
Border Belt People: Jessica Cory brings awareness to Lumbee literature
February 7, 2024
This Q&A in Border Belt Independent features Jessica Cory, a lecturer in App State’s Department of English, who speaks about her interest in the Lumbee tribe and her inspiration to write about the significance of tribal history. Cory talks about her journey as a writer and what she hopes people will gain from reading her article, “The Politics of Recognition and the Power of Place in Lumbee Women’s Poetry,” which was published by the North Carolina Literary Review.
Hayes School of Music faculty, students install state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos studio
App State’s music industry studies program encourages hands-on learning
December 8, 2023
App State faculty and students have installed a new Dolby Atmos immersive sound system in the Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio, housed in App State’s Hayes School of Music. The experience offered students hands-on learning with a prominent technology in the music industry.
'Appalachian' — how do you say it?
App State explores the history behind the region’s name and its pronunciations
October 27, 2023
App State explores the rich history behind the Appalachian region’s name and its pronunciations — a history that spans cultures, centuries and languages. Both “appa-latch-un” and “appa-lay-shun,” an alternative pronunciation, are acceptable.