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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.

  • Appalachian Studies

    Appalachian Studies

  • Department of Applied Design

    Department of Applied Design

  • Department of Art

    Department of Art

  • Hayes School of Music

    Hayes School of Music

  • Department of Theatre and Dance

    Department of Theatre and Dance

  • Department of English

    Department of English

  • Department of History

    Department of History

  • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

    Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

  • Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

    Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

  • Department of Philosophy and Religion

    Department of Philosophy and Religion

Venues, programs and publications

  • Art Galleries and Special Collections

    • Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
    • Smith Gallery
    • Looking Glass Gallery
    • Belk Library Special Collections
    • Nicholas Erneston Music Library
    • Specialized Librarians
  • Cultural Centers and Programs

    • Center for Appalachian Studies
    • Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies
    • Craft Enrichment Program
    • Watauga Residential College
  • Music and Stage

    • An Appalachian Summer Festival
    • Appalachian Popular Programming Society (APPS)
    • Department of Theatre and Dance performances
    • Hayes School of Music Performances
    • The Schaefer Center Presents
    • Apparel Design and Merchandising Showcase
    • Robert F Gilley Recording Studio
  • 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

    • APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series
    • Cannon Music Camp
    • Community Music School
    • Department of Theatre and Dance’s Theatre in our Schools
    • Department of Theatre and Dance’s Cre8tive Drama Day Camp
    • High Country Humanities
    • STARTALK program
    • Turchin Center Arts Community Programming
    • Appalachian Young People's Theatre
  • Publications and Partnerships

    • The Peel
    • The Appalachian
    • Cold Mountain Review
    • Appalachian Journal
    • Digital Humanities
    • History Matters
    • Documentary Film Services
    • Split Rail Records
    • Climate Stories Collaborative

Upcoming events

  • Peabo Bryson
    Jul
    16
    Peabo Bryson

    An Appalachian Summer

    July 16, 2025
    7:30 pm

    Possessing a beautifully rich, almost operatic voice, two-time Grammy Award winner Peabo Bryson celebrates 50 years in music. Viewed in touring and pop culture as one of music’s iconic vocalists, Bryson has earned two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, eight Grammy nominations, five gold albums, 25 top 20 singles, and six #1 singles. His newest album, “Missing You,” is his 20th.

  • Alonzo King LINES Ballet: “Deep River”
    Jul
    19
    Alonzo King LINES Ballet: “Deep River”

    An Appalachian Summer

    July 19, 2025
    7:30 pm

    Alonzo King LINES Ballet travels to Boone with a soulful work created in collaboration with Grammy Award®-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer and Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. At the forefront of artistic innovation in ballet, the celebrated San Francisco-based company is recognized for its impeccable technique, captivating dancers, and rich visual works.

  • The 5 Browns
    Jul
    23
    The 5 Browns

    An Appalachian Summer

    July 23, 2025
    7:30 pm

    The 5 Browns are a classical ensemble consisting of five pianos whose repertoire ranges from beloved concert hall staples to lesser known works.

  • Pink Martini featuring China Forbes
    Jul
    26
    Pink Martini featuring China Forbes

    An Appalachian Summer

    July 26, 2025
    7:30 pm

    Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop – Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks. Thirty years later, Pink Martini still tours the world, singing in 22 languages at opera houses, concert halls, film festivals, museums, and fashion shows.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

  • Threading: Contemporary Art of Thailand
    Jul
    3
    to
    Dec
    6
    Threading: Contemporary Art of Thailand
    Jul 3 - Dec 6, 2025
    Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

    It is a formidable undertaking to chart the immense variety of the artists working in a single country while doing justice to our goal of reflecting their unique cultural experiences through the visual arts. In every country the artists living and working there may not have been born there, and yet they call their adopted cities and countries home. The artists represented in “Threading: Contemporary Art from Thailand,” are primarily based in Bangkok and Saen Suk, Chon Buri, Thailand.

  • An Appalachian Summer
    Jun
    28
    to
    Jul
    26
    An Appalachian Summer
    Jun 28 - Jul 26, 2025

    Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every summer in venues across the university campus, and features an eclectic mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming.

  • Image and Music: John Cohen
    Jun
    6
    to
    Dec
    13
    Image and Music: John Cohen
    Jun 6 - Dec 13, 2025
    Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

    The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is pleased to partner with John Cohen’s extended family and L. Parker Stephenson who represents Cohen’s musical estate, to bring an exhibition of Cohen’s Appalachian photographs to the Appalachian State University campus. The installation will be accompanied by extended programming showcasing films made by and about John Cohen as well as performances of traditional Appalachian music.

  • I Remember: Elizabeth Stone
    Jun
    6
    to
    Nov
    1
    I Remember: Elizabeth Stone
    Jun 6 - Nov 1, 2025
    Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

    Photographer Elizabeth Sone thinks deeply about community connections. Sharing in the participatory multi-generational stories of “I Remember” is an opportunity for Turchin Center visitors to connect with extended communities across North Carolina. The negatives and faded 35mm slides that Stone gathers through donations and then weaves into ethereal sculptural forms create a shared vison which is both specific and anonymous.

View more arts and humanities events

News

  • Appalachian Dance Ensemble marks half-century with over 500 original creative works, 5,700 participants
    Appalachian Dance Ensemble marks half-century with over 500 original creative works, 5,700 participants
    April 4, 2025

    Since its inception in 1975, the Appalachian Dance Ensemble at App State has premiered over 500 original works — involving more than 5,700 students, faculty, guest artists and community members. Learn about the ensemble’s history and the people who have shaped it over the years.

  • App State researchers uncover hidden history at Fort Defiance
    App State researchers uncover hidden history at Fort Defiance
    June 23, 2025

    Ground-penetrating radar and App State interdisciplinary detective work have revealed 105 graves of enslaved people at Fort Defiance, adding new layers of history to the Lenoir-area landmark and confirming generations of family stories.

  • Jewel Davis appointed chair of 2026 Caldecott Award Selection Committee
    Jewel Davis appointed chair of 2026 Caldecott Award Selection Committee
    August 28, 2024

    Jewel Davis, an education librarian and professor in University Libraries at App State, has been appointed to serve as chair of the 2026 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee. The Caldecott Medal, established in 1937 and presented annually by the American Library Association, is one of the oldest and most highly regarded awards for children's book illustration in the United States. As committee chair, Davis will lead 14 distinguished librarians from across the nation in evaluating and selecting the most outstanding picture books published in 2025.

  • App State Gospel Choir uplifts campus and local community through song
    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.

View more arts and humanities news

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