Uplifting the Arts in the NC High Country

ART NEWS
July 4th Art Market @ FARM CAFE!
July 4th Art Market @ FARM CAFE!

WAC and FARM Cafe team up for a seasonal First Saturday Art Market, held on July 4th at FARM from 10am - 3pm!

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WNC Sculpture Center Celebrates New Installation With Community Garden Party!
WNC Sculpture Center Celebrates New Installation With Community Garden Party!

Celebrate a community earthwork and learn more about climate resilience and restoration at the WNC Sculpture Center in Lenoir!

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Buskers Fest 2026 - All You Need To Know!
Buskers Fest 2026 - All You Need To Know!

Learn about all the happenings for Buskers Fest 2026!

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“The Art of Jazz” is on exhibit now at WAC. Reception June 11th, 5-7pm @ App Theatre
“The Art of Jazz” is on exhibit now at WAC. Reception June 11th, 5-7pm @ App Theatre

Learn about WAC’s new exhibit and upcoming reception!

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ART NEWS

High Country Arts Happenings

Discover arts events across the High Country!

Don’t see your event listed? Submit an event!

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Our Mission

The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) fosters a thriving, diverse, vibrant, creative community through arts advocacy, education, support, and inspiration.

Serving professional and emerging artists, WAC facilitates and provides a structure for arts initiatives that enrich the lives of artists, residents, and visitors alike in the North Carolina High Country.

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See how WAC strengthens the arts in the High Country ↓

Advocate

Making the case for arts and culture in our region
Art in the Outdoors
Explore the Arts
Arts impact

Educate

Providing arts education  for all
Take an art class!
Teach with Us!

Support

creating opportunities for creative work
Grants
Exhibit with us
First Friday Art Crawls

Inspire

inspiring through art, Experience, & connection
Youth Makers Markets
Art Gallery
Get involved

Out and About

View fullsize Details, details, details 🎷 Join us TONIGHT from 5-7pm for a free, open-to-all gallery reception at Appalachian Theatre, celebrating our current exhibit, The Art of Jazz. Enjoy live music from Todd Wright, a cash bar, light refreshments, the chanc
View fullsize Mark your calendars! Upcoming free reception open to all! WAC is excited for our upcoming reception for The Art of Jazz exhibit, held at App Theatre THIS Thursday, June 11th, from 5-7 p.m. The Art of Jazz has been on exhibit at WAC for the past mo
View fullsize We're so excited to hear that Wild Craft Eatery will be hosting a new First Friday Art Crawl feature! Stop by Wild Craft Eatery for Disco Night hosted by DJ Dumpsta J TOMORROW night from 9pm to midnight 🪩✨ Come end your night on King Street with so
View fullsize This First Friday @ Betty's Biscuits from 5-8pm! Join us for a jazz-themed collage making night inspired by our latest exhibit: The Art of Jazz. A cash bar will be available, and some of our WAC crew will be there to meet and mingle! Plus, enjoy a r
View fullsize Lend WAC a Hand During Boonerang Weekend! (June 19th-21st) WAC will be out in full force at Boonerang this year, with both an information tent and a beer pouring station as one of the festival’s beverage partners. We’re looking for volun
View fullsize 🎉 Registration is now open for Buskers Fest 2026! Want to sell or perform at an arts and culture festival in Boone, NC? Buskers Fest is an eclectic, open-air festival in Downtown Boone happening on September 12th from 1-5pm that brings together vis
View fullsize Here's your June First Friday lineup! Art Crawl Highlights ✨ Disco Club Night @ Wild Craft Eatery | 9pm - Midnight Stop by Wildcraft Eatery for a club night with DJ Dumpsta J spinning an eclectic variety of vinyl records from the global vault! 21+,
View fullsize CALLING ALL CERAMIC & POTTERY ARTISTS! 🔥 Submissions for our upcoming exhibit, Earth & Fire, are still being accepted. We are accepting all types of pottery and ceramic work that is decorative or functional, whether hand-built, wheel-thrown
View fullsize See our art classes happening this week! All classes are listed on our website, along with their descriptions, prices, instructor info, and more. Register online today! Click the link in our bio to access our class website!
View fullsize On June 21, 2025 Cindy Michaud and her husband began crafting Bella, their very own Boone butterfly bench. In less than a year, they have made tremendous progress alongside a team of devoted volunteers to complete this project. This butterfly bench
View fullsize From June 2 to July 27, CCC&TI is offering summer art courses, including a gallery assistantship, textiles, and art appreciation! For those who don't know, these classes are free to folks over 65 and current high school students. These offering
View fullsize Join us TOMORROW (Thursday, May 21) from 6-8 pm at FizzEd for an evening filled with drinks, food, friends, and art. This drop-in art mixer is open to everyone and all art supplies will be provided (feel free to bring your own, too!) FizzEd will als