​Blowing Rock Art & History Museum offers free Household memberships
($75 value) to EBT card-holding households.

At this level, members receive free or discounted admission to regular BRAHM programming and workshops, including children’s art classes like Doodlebug Club (preschool-aged children) and Afternoon Art (ages 6-12).

​Members can also attend adult programs for free or a reduced cost, such as Cork and Canvas, lectures, and more. Museum for All households also receive discounts in the gift shop and on children’s backpack art kits.

To sign up for a Museum for All membership, just visit the museum and present your EBT card at the front desk.

BRAHM is at the Corner of Main Street and Ginny Stevens Lane in downtown Blowing Rock.
159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-9099

​To generate interest in Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites, fabulous early literacy experience now open at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM), the Watauga County Public Library has created a Hide and Seek game based on Eric Hill's beloved dog, Spot. The game is hosted by Blowing Rock Parks and Rec on their Memorial Park playground at 1036 Main Street, Blowing Rock. The library brochure holder with instructions for the game will be located next to the equipment rental hut near the playground beginning October 29th, and will be available until the end of December. 
Once you have completed your game worksheet by writing down the letters to reveal a secret message, take it to BRAHM at 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, for a small prize -- and enjoy the Storyland exhibit while you are there! You can also enter your name for a drawing of copies of the Storyland book titles, or a free annual Family Membership to BRAHM.

Progressive bluegrass joins a living legend for a special one-night-only concert, Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts in Boone.​
​
BOONE, NC — The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, welcomes Yonder Mountain String Band and the Del McCoury Band on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music, expanding the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock n’ roll and improvisation. The Del McCoury Band, fronted by the legendary McCoury, is the most awarded band in bluegrass history. The bands take the stage together for a one-night-only highly anticipated double-bill concert. Tickets are $45 adults, $40 faculty/staff, $25 students. A livestream option is also available for $15 per household.

The Colorado-based Yonder Mountain String Band blends bluegrass, rock and roll, and countless other influences into a new genre. Yonder Mountain’s early success was fueled by their desire to make a sound distinctly their own. Their traditional take on bluegrass was fused with their diverse musical influences ranging anywhere from punk rock to the Grateful Dead. The combination of the band’s unique personalities, extended musical improvisations, their jam band fan culture and their collaborative effort on writing and arranging original songs which span multiple genres attracted more of a freewheeling jam crowd than the traditional bluegrass scene which, in turn, exposed a whole new generation of fans to bluegrass. This past April, the band recorded their ninth studio album, scheduled to be released in late 2021. 

BOONE, NC - The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) has announced an  expanded series of performances in celebration of the upcoming holiday season, with  events ranging from music concerts to choral ensembles and live theatre. These shows  are in addition to the ATHC’s popular Cinema Classics series that is screening seasonal  favorites from Halloween through the Christmas season.  
​
“The success of recent in-person performances by artists such as Roger McGuinn, John  McEuen and his String Wizards have clearly demonstrated that High Country audiences  are ready to resume events at the Appalachian Theatre,” said Executive Director Laura  Kratt, who noted that attendance has been building steadily since the venue resumed live  programming on September 3.  

“Patrons have responded quite favorably to our commitment to the safety and well-being  of our community, particularly our audience members,” said Kratt. “We will continue to  follow the guidance of health and governmental officials in the development and  implementation of COVID related policies,” which are detailed on the ATHC website,  www.apptheatre.org.
​

​The Tony-winning playwright, performer, comedian and activist, known for her multi-character, one-person shows, takes the stage at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts in An Evening with Sarah Jones, Oct. 7 at 7pm.

​BOONE, NC — The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, welcomes Tony-winning performer, writer, comedian and activist Sarah Jones, in An Evening with Sarah Jones, on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Called “a master of the genre” by The New York Times, Jones is known for her powerful and wickedly funny multi-character, one-person shows, including Broadway hit Bridge & Tunnel, originally produced by Meryl Streep, and the critically-acclaimed show Sell/Buy/Date. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 faculty/staff, $5 students, and free for all App State students (ticket issued in person with proof of student I.D.). A livestream option is also available at $15 per household.

Renowned as “a one-woman global village,” Jones has given multiple main-stage TED Talks garnering millions of views, performed for President and First Lady Obama at the White House, and gave a historic performance at The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as the first artist on its main stage normally reserved for heads of state.

'

​Jones recently launched Foment Productions, a social justice-focused entertainment company aligned with her progressive, intersectional activism. A documentary inspired by Sell/Buy/Date just wrapped production and is slated to premiere in early 2022. Helmed by Jones in her directorial debut, Sell/Buy/Date explores one of the most critical issues at the intersection of race, feminism, power and economics in our current cultural climate: the sex industry. The doc, executive produced by Rashida Jones and Meryl Streep, is a candid, witty and political yet personal take on the topic, particularly in our new pandemic reality.

Additionally, Jones has appeared in TV and film projects including Sesame Street, Broad City, and Marriage Story. She has served as a writer/producer on Smilf and recently developed her own character-based show ​for CNN. She can currently be seen as a co-lead opposite Julie Delpy and Elisabeth Shue in Delpy’s Netflix
dramedy series, On the Verge.

SCP fall events are on sale now; the on-sale date for tickets for the spring season (featuring Nobuntu, BalletX: The Little Prince, and Rosanne Cash) will be announced later this year.

-  Fall tickets are general admission.
- Seating is capped at 50% capacity (800 seats).
- Face coverings are required for students, faculty, staff and patrons, regardless of vaccination status.

In-person and livestream tickets are available at theschaefercenter.org, at the Schaefer Center box office (733 Rivers Street), or by calling 828-262-4046.

COMING SOON AND ON SALE NOW!...
​
​Yonder Mountain String Band and the Del McCoury Band
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 at 7pm
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
​
Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music, expanding the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock n’ roll and improvisation. The Del McCoury Band, fronted by the legendary McCoury, is the most awarded band in bluegrass history. The bands take the stage together for a one-night-only double-bill concert at the Schaefer Center.

“With their instrumental prowess and adventurous musical spirit, Yonder Mountain String Band were — and still are — a pioneering group in the emerging progressive bluegrass scene that now includes marquee acts like Billy Strings, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass and the Infamous Stringdusters.”--Rolling Stone

Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry, to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link.

Tickets: $45 Adult, $40 Faculty/Staff, $25 Student
Livestream: $15 per household
​

Rosanne Cash
Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 7pm


About “The Schaefer Center Presents”
“The Schaefer Center Presents” is a series offering campus and community audiences a diverse array of music, dance and theatre programming designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the Appalachian State University campus and surrounding area. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a "window on the world" through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region. Musical events range from symphony orchestra and chamber music performances to jazz, folk, traditional, international,
and popular artists. Theatre productions run the gamut from serious drama to musical comedy. Dance performances offer an equally wide array of styles, from ballet to modern dance to international companies representing cultural traditions from around the world. For more information, visit http://theschaefercenter.org.

Our Schaefer Center Presents Sponsors
Boone Tourism Development Authority, Allen Wealth Management, McDonald’s of Boone, Holiday Inn Boone, The Horton Hotel, Our State Magazine, High Country Radio, WDAV 89.9 FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WETS, WKSK The Farm, and WASU 90.5FM

(Blowing Rock, NC) -BRAHM (Blowing Rock Art & History Museum) has received a $12,400 Large Grant from North Carolina Humanities. 


“We are grateful to be one of the organizations North Carolina Humanities selected for this grant funding, it is an honor to be part of the 2021 NC Humanities large grants cohort.” said Willard Watson, BRAHM programs director, and Jagged Path project manager.


This important funding will support BRAHM’s upcoming exhibit the Jagged Path: the African Diaspora in Western North Carolina in Craft, Music, and Dance. The funds will be used to hire two contracted field workers to interview artists, musicians, and dancers in WNC as well as produce a hardcover exhibit catalog. This funding is important because it will allow us to address the lack of scholarship around the contributions African Americans have made in the development of the culture of Western North Carolina.


This project was made possible by a grant from North Carolina Humanities, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 


For more information about BRAHM please visit blowingrockmuseum.org. 
BRAHM is an art and history museum nestled in the mountains of North Carolina. Open to the public in 2011, it serves as a community cultural center with a focus on engagement, enrichment and education for all who visit. BRAHM is a 501-c3 non-profit organization and offers free admission to the museum.

Rosanne Cash
Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 7pm
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
One of the country’s pre-eminent singer-songwriters, Rosanne Cash has released 15 albums of extraordinary songs that have earned four Grammy Awards and 12 nominations, as well as 21 Top 40 hits, including 11 chart-topping singles. She Remembers Everything—her latest release—is a poetic, lush, and soulful collection of songs that reckon with a flawed and intricate world. It follows her triple Grammy-winning 2014 album, The River & the Thread, and marks a return to more personal songwriting after a trio of albums that explored her southern roots and family heritage.
Tickets: $40 Adult, $35 Faculty/Staff, $25 Student


Tickets
Tickets are on sale now in person, via phone or online. A student discount is available for all shows when tickets are purchased at the box office. A faculty/staff discount for select shows is available when tickets are purchased over the phone or at the box office. A local resident discount with proof of residence in Watauga, Ashe or Avery counties for Nobuntu is available when tickets are purchased over the phone or at the box office. To purchase tickets, stop by the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office, call 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046, or visit http://theschaefercenter.org.

About “The Schaefer Center Presents”
“The Schaefer Center Presents” is a series offering campus and community audiences a diverse array of music, dance and theatre programming designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the Appalachian State University campus and surrounding area. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a "window on the world" through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region. Musical events range from symphony orchestra and chamber music performances to jazz, folk, traditional, international, and popular artists. Theatre productions run the gamut from serious drama to musical comedy. Dance performances offer an equally wide array of styles, from ballet to modern dance to international companies representing cultural traditions from around the world. For more information, visit http://theschaefercenter.org. 

Thank You to Our Schaefer Center Presents Sponsors
Boone Tourism Development Authority, McDonald’s of Boone, Holiday Inn Boone, The Horton Hotel, Our State Magazine, High Country Radio, WDAV 89.9 FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WETS and WASU 90.5FM


​
Virtual APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series 2021
Study guides are available to download for each event.

​

Glenis Redmond: Telling Stories Through Poetry
March 30-April 27, 2022
Recommended for Grades 6-12
In Telling Stories, Glenis shares her origin story. She reads poems connected to her Carolina heritage as she uplifts people and places. She also honors teachers who ignited her poetic fire when she was in middle school. In this session, Glenis makes the case that poetry can strengthen a student’s voice. Glenis urges and implores that poetry is for all.
Educator Workshop April 26


​
​About APPlause!
Every season, affordable music, dance, film and theatre events are offered to students and their teachers from K-12 classrooms across the region. Students experience everything from high-energy acrobatics and Appalachian music to international dance and literary classics brought to life through theatrical productions. The performances are part of the APPlause! series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. Featuring local, regional, and world-renowned professional artists, the mission of the program is to share university arts resources with the public, private, and homeschool network across our region. Study guide materials connect every performance to the classroom curriculum.

Thank You to Our APPlause! Sponsors
The APPlause! 2021-22 season has been generously supported by a grant from the JAMES G. HANES MEMORIAL FUND and individual support from Sue and Steve Chase.

​

What is the Creative Economy Revitalization Act?

The Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA), H.R. 5019, is a bi-partisan bill  to invest in jobs for artists and other creative workers in support of local economies harmed by COVID-19.

 U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), along with Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the bill.

CERA's specific, directed investment in creative workers will jumpstart local economies, reduce unemployment, and improve health and vibrancy of communities. 

What would CERA do?
 
CERA would authorize $300m through a grant program at the U.S. Department of 
Labor, in coordination with the National Endowment for the Arts. 

These grants would go to local, state, and tribal agencies; workforce agencies; and 
public or private nonprofit entities. They would support business initiatives to 
employ creative workers. 

The grant recipients would hire local creative workers to produce publicly available creative projects that meet community needs and priorities. 

Projects could include public artworks,  festivals, performances, visual and media art, arts education work, and written works that capture narratives from first responders and historically marginalized communities. 

These projects will put creative workers to work, support local small businesses, create economic ripple effects, enrich and celebrate communities, and increase access to culture for all!


Why do our creative workers, businesses, and communities need CERA?

COVID-19 crushed local economies and particularly damaged creative businesses and displaced large numbers of creative workers.


What is the creative economy?

Over 675,000 for-profit and nonprofit creative businesses and 5.1 million artists, educators, entrepreneurs, vendors, policy makers and funders, that’s what! 

Creative economies exist in every American community, powered by people who use their creativity to drive jobs, revenue, community resources, and cultural engagement. 

​Creatives work hard! 91% of all creative businesses are solo entrepreneurships, and a third of all creative workers are 
independent contractors or gig workers. 


The biggest action item at the moment is to support Leger Fernandez and Obernolte’s efforts to add co-sponsors in the House to CERA. There is an Action Alert below that you can use for that, or you can independently reach out to your Representative to encourage their co-sponsorship. Reps Lieu (CA), Pingree (ME), and Delauro (CT) have already come on as co-sponsors.
 
The Creative Economy Revitalization Act has now been officially introduced. It is HR 5019.

• Click here for the official release from Rep. Leger Fernandez announcing the introduction of the bill.
• Click here for the official bill text.
• Click here for Rep. Leger Fernandez’s list of endorsing partners. If you believe your organization endorsed the bill, but you are not listed, please email me and I’ll inform the Congresswoman’s staff—it is apparently a bit of a challenge to get PDFs updated on official government sites, so they’re asking for coordinated submission of edits.
• Click here for a one-pager on the bill created by Rep. Leger Fernandez’s staff.

 

• Congresswoman Leger Fernandez and Congressman Obernolte also, on August 18, sent a Dear Colleague letter encouraging co-sponsorship from their House colleagues. A copy of that Dear Colleague letter is attached for reference.ACTION ITEM: To encourage additional co-sponsors, we have created a co-sponsorship Action Alert that can be filled out by anyone and automatically sent to their Representative in Congress. 
• It can be found here. Please complete it and encourage others to do so!
• A subset of the Get Creative Workers Working coalition, working alongside partners from Be An Arts Hero, the Cultural Advocacy Group, and the State Arts Action Network, have created an FAQ/Explainer on CERA, which can be found here.

 

• Americans for the Arts’ government affairs team took high points of the FAQ/Explainer and turned it until an infographic, which is attached to this post. 

 

• The bill has been directed to the House Committee on Education and Labor, as we anticipated.
• Beyond getting co-sponsors, the next big effort is going to need to be getting the Ed and Labor Committee to put CERA on the agenda for active consideration, and to ideally recommend it be taken up by the House. If you see your Representative on this list below, they are a member of this committee, and need to hear from you that they should actively take up (and vote to move forward) the Creative Economy Revitalization Act. If you need assistance in reaching out to your Representative, please let us know! (ORGANIZED BY STATE BELOW)

-          Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
-          Mark Takano (D-CA)
-          Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
-          Michelle Steel (R-CA)
-          Joe Courtney (D-CT)
-          Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
-          Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
-          Lucy McBath (D-GA)
-          Rick Allen (R-GA)
-          Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
-          Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
-          Mary Miller (R-IL)
-          Frank Mrvan (D-IN)
-          Jim Banks (R-IN)
-          Victoria Spartz (R-IN)
-          John Yarmuth (D-KY)
-          James Comer (R-KY)
-          Julia Letlow (R-LA)
-          Kweisi Mfume (D-MD)
-          Andy Levin (D-MI)
-          Haley Stevens (D-MI)
-          Tim Walberg (R-MI)
-          Lisa McClain (R-MI)
-          Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
-          Alma Adams (D-NC)
-          Kathy Manning (D-NC)
-          Virginia Foxx (R-NC) – Ranking Member
-          Gregory Murphy (R-NC)
-          Madison Cawthorn (R-NC)
-          Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
-          Mikie Sherill (D-NJ)
-          Gregorio Camacho Sablan (D-N. Marianas Islands)
-          Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
-          Joseph Morelle (D-NY)
-          Mondaire Jones (D-NY)
-          Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
-          Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
-          Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
-          Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
-          Susan Wild (D-PA)
-          Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
-          Fred Keller (R-PA)
-          Joe Wilson (R-SC)
-          Diane Harshbarger (R-TN)
-          Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
-          Burgess Owens (R-UT)
-          Bobby Scott (D-VA) – Chair
-          Bob Good (R-VA)
-          Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
-          Mark Pocan (D-WI)
-          Glenn Grothman (R-WI)
-          Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)
 

Due to the success of the inaugural BOONE DOCS documentary film series in
2020-21, the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) has announced an expanded schedule of screenings including a new Cinema Classics series. On seven different weekends during the autumn months, “Cinema Sundays at the App Theatre” will bring both documentary films and much-loved, family-friendly classics to audiences throughout the High Country region and beyond.
​
Perpetuating a cinematic tradition that dates back to 1938 when the venerable art deco “movie palace” opened on King Street in the heart of Boone, the Cinema Classics series will formally launch during the upcoming holiday season. In the interim, it will tease theatre-goers with a much-loved film that will be screened at the theatre, in person at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 19 in conjunction with “International Talk Like a Pirate Day.”
​
It is the only holiday that encourages people to babble like buccaneers for the sheer, anarchic fun of it. “It’s been celebrated by millions of people on all seven continents and even on the International Space Station,” according to co-creators John Baur and Mark Summers. The App Theatre invites audiences to don their best pirate regalia (no swords, please) and celebrate the best pirate film ever produced while practicing their best pirate jargon. “ARRRRG!”

When the studio prohibited the App Theatre from mentioning the title of this popular 1987 film directed by Rob Reiner and featuring Dred Pirate Roberts, Executive Director Laura Kratt replied, “Inconceivable!”, but offered the following hints: the movie stars Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, and Andre the Giant, and includes with the legendary catchphrase, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” For the name of this iconic film, go to www.apptheatre.com. 

​Live Music
September 3 — Roger McGuinn
Folk rock artist Roger McGuinn is the frontman of The Byrds. McGuinn has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his music has a signature 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound. Popular songs featuring McGuinn’s vocals include: “Turn! Turn! Turn!”and “Eight Miles High,” both by The Byrds.
McGuinn will play The Appalachian Theatre on Friday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.
October 1 — Damn Tall Buildings
Folk group Damn Tall Buildings creates unique music that combines roots-rock, bluegrass, blues and vintage swing. “The Boston Globe” writes that they are “the Carter family for the millennial generation.” 
Damn Tall Buildings will play the Appalachian Theatre on Friday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.
October 14 — John McEuen and the String Wizards
Folk musicians John McEuen and the String Wizards were the first artists to play The Appalachian Theatre in 2019. On October 14, they will return to the stage in their “Grand Opening 2.0” concert.  John McEuen is a founding member of country rock group the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and has also been inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame. McEuen’s accompanying “string wizards” include former Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members Lea Thompson and John Cable.
John McEuen and the String Wizards will play the Appalachian Theatre on Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.
November 6 — The Malpass Brothers
Bluegrass musicians The Malpass Brothers ​use mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass to create a unique and memorable musical experience. The two brothers, Christopher and Taylor Malpass, have shared billing with iconic musicians like Willie Nelson, Doc Watson, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent and Marty Stuart. 
The Malpass Brothers will play the Appalachian Theatre on Saturday, November 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25.

​

Location
The Appalachian Theatre is located at 559 W King Street in Boone, next to the Boone Town Hall. 

COVID-19 Protocols
Ticket holders will be emailed prior to the event regarding current COVID-19 protocols. The Appalachian Theatre has upgraded their HVAC systems to include state of the art ionization systems that will increase fresh, clean air in the theatre. There are also sanitation stations throughout the theater. Additionally, if ticket holders become sick and cannot attend the show, they will receive a full refund. 

About “The Friends of the APP”
Friends of the APP is an organization that funds operations at The Appalachian Theatre. Memberships contribute to funding community programs, presenting amazing shows and maintaining the theater. Members of Friends of the APP receive benefits like early access to tickets, donor recognition in playbills and on lobby signage, early concert notice and free ticket exchange perks.

​