Featuring glass work by military veteran Geoffrey Bowton, this exhibition draws upon Bowton’s own experiences with combat deployments to confront the emotional and psychological challenges faced by veterans re-entering civilian life. Through the symbolic use of military gear, he ushers viewers into the complex landscape of post-service reality: depression, suicide, PTSD, and the unresolved echoes […]

Experience the power and beauty of live orchestral music as the North Carolina Symphony returns to the Bardo Arts Center with Classical Favorites. This enchanting evening features a selection of beloved symphonic works that have stood the test of time—rich in emotion, elegance, and energy. From familiar melodies to timeless masterpieces, this concert offers something […]

Explore the latest WCU Fine Art Museum exhibition featuring artwork by WCU's talented graduate students. The Master of Fine Art Thesis 2026 is on display in the WCU Fine Art Museum, with a reception on Thursday, April 9, from 5-7PM! Join us as we celebrate the students' work and hear their stories and perspectives at […]

Join us at Western Carolina University's Bardo Arts Center for a special screening of A SACRED THREAD. Witness the powerful story of the Snowbird Cherokee struggle to protect their language and heritage. This in-person event will showcase the resilience and determination of a community fighting to preserve its identity. Don't miss this inspiring opportunity to […]

Explore the latest WCU Fine Art Museum exhibition featuring artwork by WCU's talented undergraduate students. The 58th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition is currently on display in the WCU Fine Art Museum, with a reception on Thursday, February 26, from 5-7PM! Join us as we celebrate the students' work and hear their stories and perspectives at […]

Celebrate the WCU Fine Art Museum’s 20th Anniversary at our February 12 reception, from 5-7 pm. This special exhibition traces the Museum’s journey from its roots in the Belk and Chelsea Galleries to its focus on contemporary Native American voices today. Explore works from each chapter of our history and join us in honoring this […]

A new work that explores the unique and tragic conflicts faced by settlers of Western North Carolina during the Civil War. Set in rural Madison County, this opera is a powerful account of families torn apart by fear, mistrust, and violence. Tracing a story that interweaves short stories and poetry of Ron Rash and based […]

Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, […]

Step into a night of mountain magic with Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Strings, Stories, and Songs. Presented by WCU’s Bardo Arts Center and Mountain Heritage Center, this soulful celebration brings the Smokies to life through the spirited tunes of the Junior Appalachian Musicians, the captivating stories of Cherokee storyteller Kathi Littlejohn, and […]

Discover the brilliance of North Carolina Glass 2025 at our special exhibition reception on Thursday, October 2, 5–7 PM. This landmark show continues a decades-long tradition of honoring the state’s vibrant studio glass movement, featuring both established and emerging artists redefining glass as a contemporary art form. Meet fellow art lovers, explore cutting-edge creations, and […]

Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, […]

Join the WCU community for the Annual Handmade Holiday Sale from 10 am to 5 pm and enjoy shopping, free snacks, and holiday cheer! This event features high-quality, handmade gifts created by students, staff, and alumni. Items for sale include artwork, ceramics, wearable accessories, woodwork, and a variety of other handmade craft items. Get an […]

This captivating circus show unfolds the story of a character who has lost his inner light, plunging him into a wondrous and surreal world where memories come to life and the ordinary becomes ‘extra’ordinary. Solstice blends over eight acrobatic acts with lighting, costumes, music, scenery, and snow to create a unique blend of poetry and […]

Western Carolina University’s Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition is one of the longest-running Catamount art traditions. This exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity for WCU undergraduate students to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting. Entries are reviewed by an outside art professional who […]

Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s renowned Latino dance organization and one of America’s Cultural Treasures. For 50 years, Ballet Hispánico has been bringing communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance performances, transformative dance training, and enduring community engagement experiences. Join Bardo Arts Center as we watch Ballet Hispánico perform new and […]

Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, […]

Join Bardo Arts Center for a magically festive, full-length version of The Nutcracker featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company. Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, […]

Initially postponed due to Hurricane Helene, the WCU Fine Art Museum invites you to contemplate themes of community, power, and representation as explored through At the Table reception on November 21, 2024. The works in the exhibition, which feature the recurring motif of the table, both literal and metaphorical, use this common piece of furniture […]

Join the WCU community for the Annual Handmade Holiday Sale from noon to 7 pm and enjoy shopping, free snacks, and holiday cheer! Along with the sale, BAC will host the exhibition At the Table reception from 5–7 pm, which was rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene. Reception is open and free, with light snacks and […]

This exhibition gives graduating students in the WCU School of Art and Design the opportunity to share their work with the wider community. Fourteen studio art majors will share their capstone projects in the fall 2024 semester. Their art portfolios, which include paintings, photography, ceramics, installation art and other mediums, explore a wide range of […]

This exhibition highlights their comprehensive course of study at WCU’s School of Art & Design and serves as a preface to their forthcoming careers as professional artists. The School of Art and Design’s Bachelor of Fine Art with an emphasis in Studio Art is created for students who wish to hone their focus more intensively […]

Step into the heart of the Appalachian soul as the WCU’s Bardo Arts Center and Mountain Heritage Center present Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Bluegrass, Ballads, and Tall Tales, an unforgettable event celebrating the rich tapestry of mountain culture. This enchanting evening begins with storytelling trio Sheila Kay Adams, Donna Ray Norton, and […]

Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s renowned Latino dance organization and one of America’s Cultural Treasures. For 50 years, Ballet Hispánico has been bringing communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance performances, transformative dance training, and enduring community engagement experiences. Kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month with Ballet Hispánico as they perform new and […]

As we enter another fall season, the WCU Fine Art Museum invites you to contemplate themes of community, power, and representation as explored through At the Table. The works in the exhibition, which feature the recurring motif of the table, both literal and metaphorical, use this common piece of furniture to signify a place where […]