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

Jun
6
First Friday Art Crawl
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
June 6, 2025
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts every First Friday of the month as downtown Boone comes alive with creativity, community, and celebration! Explore our captivating galleries featuring contemporary art exhibitions, meet local artists, and enjoy free admission. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for an inspiring night out, the Turchin Center is the perfect place to start your First Friday Art Crawl adventure.
Jun
28
Amos Lee
An Appalachian Summer
June 28, 2025
7:30 pm
Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter Amos Lee released his gold-selling self-titled first album in 2005 and has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon and Bob Dylan to Zac Brown Band and Willie Nelson. The force behind such acclaimed albums as “Mission Bell” and “Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song,” Lee’s recent years have been wildly productive.
Jun
29
14th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition Winner’s Recital
An Appalachian Summer
June 29, 2025
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The winner of the 14th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists will perform a full recital of the works they performed during the competition held earlier that morning.
Jul
3
Celebrating Our Country and Community through Music
An Appalachian Summer
July 3, 2025
7:30 pm
Bring the whole family to an inspiring musical event! Faculty from the Hayes School of Music and young musicians from Cannon Music Camp’s 57th season present an interactive concert for all ages. Celebrating Country and Community through Music kicks off the lead-up to the U.S. Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy familiar tunes performed by soloists, chamber groups, singers, bands, and keyboardists, concluding with a thrilling full-orchestra finale.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

May
2
to
Oct
4
Webs of Significance: Center Award & Grant Winners
May 2 - Oct 4, 2025
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
Now in its 30th year, the non-profit organization, Center, supports socially and environmentally engaged lens-based efforts that respect all people, open minds, and support a shared human experience. One of Center’s most significant contributions to the world of photography is the annual award and grant program which has supported thousands of artists over the years. Webs of Significance features many of the 2024 award winning photographers.
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.
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.
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.

View more arts and humanities events

News

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
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.
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.