Mention western North Carolina or the Blue Ridge mountains and most people think of hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, or even fly fishing in the famed French Broad River. These outdoor activities are just some of the reasons why this area is so popular, though. Brevard, North Carolina is also home to a rich and active arts community that is part of the year round lifestyle here.
There are 11 art galleries in Brevard and five are right along Main Street in downtown. The galleries are open year round, but on the fourth Friday of the month from April through December, they stay open late to welcome visitors during Gallery Walk. On those nights you can stroll down Main Street and discover the works of local artists, world renowned artists, as well as some of our area's emerging talent. While you're at it, you'll also want to catch the "Scenic 276 Arts Corridor" and the different galleries and studios that dot this mountain road. (Hwy. 276 is the main road leading into Brevard from the South Carolina border.)
One of the highlights of Brevard's arts community is a public arts project that resulted in the creation of five murals and 14 award-winning sculptures that you'll find throughout downtown...many of which have been made even more special because of forethought of the artists. Look closely at the Bobcat created by Steve Fox and you'll see "Hi kids" inscribed on the side. It was a message he placed there for the many children he knew would be drawn to "pet" his life size creation. Sculptures of an Elk and one of a Red Wolf were placed in front of the court house. The two creatures are now considered extinct and it was the artists' way of "reintroducing" them.
Late in 2007 the Transylvania Community Arts Council, along with the NC Tourism office, brought together many individuals involved in the arts here to form a new entity whose purpose was to promote all of the arts in our County. The result was the Transylvania Arts Promotion ("TAP"). It is composed of individual artists, musicians, writers, performers, and representatives from the Transylvania Community Arts Council, Brevard Music Center, The Porter Center for the Performing Arts, Brevard Little Theatre, Heart of Brevard, Brevard Chamber of Commerce, Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, arts organizations, arts businesses, and venues that host the arts.
Just this week, the group launched a web site dedicated solely to the arts in the Brevard area. At the Arts of Brevard site you'll find a complete listing of galleries, studios, performance schedules, brochures that you can download about the various art tours, and everything else that is art related in our community.
So the next time you visit Brevard, take time to hang up your hiking boots and take in the arts!
