End of Year Update: Looking Back on 2025
Hi friends,
We can’t believe that 2025 is already coming to a close. What a year it’s been! As we reflect on the past twelve months, we wanted to take a walk down memory lane, highlighting some of the events and milestones that shaped this year at Watauga Arts Council, while also inviting you to explore our Year in Review Impact Numbers.
2025 Highlights
Another Successful Year for Youth Makers
On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each Farmers Market month, Youth Makers set up shop in the Kids Corner to sell their handmade goods. We’re incredibly grateful to the participating families, both new and returning, who made this program such a success. Each year, we look for ways to grow and improve our Youth Makers program, and we can’t wait to see what our young artists create next season.
3 Murals Completed
This year, we were thrilled to make real progress on our mural initiative down at Tweetsie Railroad. Thanks to the phenomenal talent of artist Whitney Landwehrmann and the generous funding support from AARP, three murals have now been completed at the underpass near Tweetsie as part of the Middle Fork Greenway, a trail connecting Boone to Blowing Rock that is being actively installed by the Blue Ridge Conservancy. These murals bring creativity, vibrancy, and representations of our natural critters and landscapes to a shared, public space for all to enjoy.
First Friday Revitalization
First Fridays have been booming more than ever, and it’s been wonderful to see the community come together to celebrate all things art and creativity on these eclectic nights. With support from the Downtown Boone Development Association, we’ve been able to promote First Fridays and help coordinate events that bring foot traffic directly to downtown businesses and organizations. Thank you for showing up, we can’t wait to see you out there again in 2026!
A Big Year for Buskers Fest
Buskers Fest was a big one in 2025. The event generated over $8,000 in art sales, directly supporting artists and their work. We’re deeply grateful to the artists, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and, of course, the audience who made this one of our most successful Buskers Fests yet.
$100,000 Secured for Public Art
This year marked a major milestone for public art in Watauga County. We secured $100,000 through a grant from the EFA to support Watauga’s first large-scale public art installation by renowned artist Dewitt Godfrey. The project will transform a historic Watauga truss, a structure once used to transport water for electricity, into a powerful, large-scale arts installation. We’re excited to share more as this project moves forward. Check out our post about below to learn more!
Small Art Fundraiser
Our Small Art Fundraiser felt like a winter wonderland straight out of a Hallmark movie. Thanks to supporters like you, more than 35 local artists donated over 90 artworks, helping us raise over $950 in a single night. This beloved annual tradition continues to be a highlight of our year, and we can’t wait to share details about next year’s event. Stay tuned!
Looking Ahead…
At Watauga Arts Council, we’re always striving to grow; making our work bigger, better, and more structured. Looking forward into 2026, you can expect:
More public art projects underway
Continued First Friday coordination
A structured community gallery schedule (with calls for art!) in the WAC Gallery
Expanded and improved arts education programming
And more to come
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Thank you for making 2025 a year to remember. The WAC Team and Board of Directors wish you a wonderful holiday season, filled with joy and time spent with those you love most.
With gratitude,
The WAC Team