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

Jan
11
Studio Saturdays: Comic Art Storytelling with Dr. Craig Fischer and Jennifer Garonzik
High Country Humanities and Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
January 11, 2025
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
This workshop for youths, led by App State's Dr. Craig Fischer and BRAHM's Jennifer Garonzik, explores how comics’ mix of words and pictures can tell any story. It will begin with Dr. Fischer offering three tips for creating cool comics. Then, participants will write and draw a four-panel comic strip and fulfill the other requirements for the Girl Scouts’ “Cadette Comic Artist” badge. However, youths do not need to be Girl Scouts to participate.
Feb
5
Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian
Office of Research and Innovation
February 5, 2025
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Office of Research and Innovation, with support from Hayes School of Music and University Libraries, is excited to host the sixth annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event. This event celebrates all research, scholarship and creative endeavors of Appalachian State faculty and staff. Join us for oral presentations, posters, art pieces and performances. Light refreshments will be served.
Feb
6
“Drawing to Tell Stories” with illustrator Christine Nishiyama
High Country Humanities
February 6, 2025
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Local illustrator Christine Nishiyama is the author and/or illustrator of seven books, including the four-book series “Layla and the Bots,” published by Scholastic. During the interactive workshop, Nishiyama will speak about her experiences as a professional illustrator and will introduce the craft to participants of all ages. The event is free and open to the public.
Feb
8
Ballet Hispánico: CARMEN.maquia
The Schaefer Center Presents
February 8, 2025
7:30 pm
Embark on a journey through time and emotion as we commemorate 150 years of Carmen in a spellbinding dance performance inspired by the art of Pablo Picasso. Choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s quintessential work breathes new life into Bizet’s timeless tale, infusing it with raw passion and visceral energy in CARMEN.maquia. Join us as the narrative of dance work leaps off the stage and into your soul, amplified through Ballet Hispánico’s mesmerizing movement and evocative choreography.

Exhibitions and ongoing events

Dec
6
to
Apr
5
Works from the Permanent Collection: Celebrating the Generosity of Donors
Dec 6, 2024 - Apr 5, 2025
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
Like so many small and medium-sized university art centers, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts relies on the generosity of donors to support the permanent collection which is enjoyed both on and off-campus by students, alumni, staff, and faculty as well as visitors to the center’s galleries. Works from the Permanent Collection: Celebrating the Generosity of Donors showcases both a recent donation by Julia Rothschild Gidney in honor of her parents, Dr. Judith Rice Rothschild and Dr. Gerard Harry Rothschild, as well as the ongoing generosity of long-time donors Peter and Joni Webb Petschauer.
Dec
6
to
May
3
The Clothes I Wear
Dec 6, 2024 - May 3, 2025
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
The clothes we choose to wear can reveal so much about us whether we are aware of the revelations or unaware of our walking narratives. For as long as humans have worn clothes, the clothes have come packaged in rules and social etiquette about what should or should not be worn, and when or why or even how the clothes we wear should adorn the body. Exhibition includes Portia Marie York’s “Bras of Beauty” and Dori Settles’ “Shoes as Storytellers.”
Dec
6
to
Apr
5
Master Printer: Bill Lagattuta and Friends
Dec 6, 2024 - Apr 5, 2025
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
In 2024, Master Printer, Bill Lagattuta generously made a significant donation of his professional artwork to Appalachian State University, his undergraduate alma mater. Thirty of Lagattuta’s fine art prints, created in collaboration with such well-known artists as Suzi Davidoff, Lesley Dill, Jim Dine, Tony Fitzpatrick, Tom Joyce, Louise Nevelson, Lilianna Porter, Johnnie Winona Ross, May Stevens, and Hollis Sigler, amoung others, are now part of the permanent collection at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.
Jan
30
to
Apr
15
Philosophy and Religious Studies in the Contemporary World
High Country Humanties and Department of Philosophy and Religion
Jan 30 - Apr 15, 2025
The series will explore philosophical questions relevant to our daily lives. For instance, what is the relationship between happiness and health? How do stories persuade people to change their minds? What do myths tell us about how people once understood the world? What moral issues does technology such as artificial intelligence raise?

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.