Who We Are
As a center for the visual arts, we encourage a free exchange between the making of art, the display of art and the interpretation of art. Our programs endeavor to explore creativity from inspiration to presentation with the goal of engaging and intriguing our audiences.
We will do this by:
Catalyzing and supporting the creation of new art
Stimulating the exploration of art and cultural history in the Blue Ridge, in America and internationally
Providing access to bold visual arts, as well as other art forms, in various stages of production
Encouraging an integration of the arts into our educational, social, and economic life
Establishing effective collaborations with community partners for the support and celebration of the arts
Providing an accessible and affordable cultural presence in our community
Why we do it:
To engage our community through the arts
To ensure that the arts play a leading role in enriching our lives
To make certain that the arts remain a vital component of public and private education
To offer collaboration, encouragement, and support to our cultural and artistic community
We believe in:
Excellence in all of our endeavors
Collaboration with artists, colleagues, community organizations, and educational institutions
Transparency in all of our financial and professional endeavors
Innovation, creativity and boldness in our program designs and in our presentations
Openness and inclusiveness as a “Town Hall”; a gathering place to share experiences, ideas, reflections
Professionalism in meeting all museological and educational standards
Ongoing and clear communication to our varied constituents and audiences
Fun as an element in program design and visitor experience
Bringing art and people together through exceptional learning-focused programming
Definition of an Art Center
An art center encompasses the functions of an art museum but is broader in scope and more of a hybrid non-profit, permanent cultural institution. The collections form one of many equivalent cores around which exhibitions and educational programs are organized. There is however, equanimity between exhibitions, collections, lectures performance, film and video, seminars, symposia, conversations, and other forms of presentation. The art center serves as a focal point of social and cultural engagement, a sort of 'town hall' for the arts. It is the ideas and experiences, educational initiatives and learning environments, and community engagement and collaboration that form the core of the art center.
