Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Carbon Harvest is a new, regional carbon offsets platform based in Asheville, focused on agroforestry. Our application for farmers to participate in our first phase of projects is open until June 20. This informational webinar is an opportunity for farmers and community members to ask questions about carbon offsets and learn how to participate with Carbon Harvest. (www.carbonharvest.co)
. Join us for this exciting new chapter in incentivizing the stewardship of our WNC working lands.
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Farmer-to-Farmer Training
WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture, straight from the hearts, mouths, and fields of seasoned local farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC).
Why join CRAFT?
- Network with beginning and experienced farmers to exchange your ideas and knowledge and build community in the region.
- Expand your training opportunities beyond your farm to bolster the robustness of your apprenticeship offerings.
- Attract aspiring farmers to your apprenticeship positions to cultivate success and improve the future of our region’s agriculture.

We recently wrapped up our 21-Day Stand Against Racism Challenge in April. The conversation moves forward with continuing the challenge because the work is far from over! As we became aware of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, it is again evident that the systems in place that already harm young women of color the most can be regressed even more by those with power today. In these crucial moments and always, knowledge is a way to take back power.
WE CHALLENGE YOU TO…
2 mins
Watch Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice shares The History of Reproductive Justice (RJ), a powerful video clearly communicating the definition of RJ, watch here.
10 mins
Check out Planned Parenthood’s article, Roe v. Wade at Risk: Nationwide Legal Abortion May Be a Thing of the Past. Access the article here.
13 mins
Consider this from NPR, which featured an article titled, Roe’s Legal Fate is Unclear. But Studies already Show Who’d Likely Be Hit the Hardest, read here.
42 mins
Listen. Parenting and Politics host Monica Simpson, a North Carolina Native and Executive Director of Sister Song. Sister Song is a Southern-based, national membership organization; our purpose is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities. Listen to the podcast here.
For more Continuing the Challenge resources click below:
What is the Stand Against Racism Challenge?
Many people are becoming newly aware of how systemic racism and violence are impacting people of color. Even if you are new to the conversation, that is OK. Our STand against racism challenge, formerly the 21 Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participants who sign up for the Challenge will receive daily tasks via email to help foster their understanding and awareness, with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. If you’ve already completed this challenge with us in the past please know that our challenge is designed to be taken multiple times by selecting different daily challenges in order to expand what you have previously learned. Follow this link for the resources.

Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.

Join us in the temperature-controlled Arena to walk on most Tuesdays and Thursdays! Admission is free, masks are required and social distancing will be practiced.
Each lap around the concourse is 1/4 mile and strollers are welcome. Representatives from St. Francis Sports Medicine will be on hand for each event and other health professionals- like dietitians- are frequently scheduled to attend. Free parking is available in the VIP lot off of Church Street.

Come join us at Bullington Gardens and find joy in flowers! Rachel Meriwether will share her experience as a flower farmer and a designer to get you started designing beautiful arrangements for your home, friends, and family. You will learn the basics of flower conditioning, balancing an arrangement with the vessel you are using, how to create different styles, and the basics of positive and negative space when designing. Please bring hand pruners if you have them, a vessel of your choice so you can bring your arrangement home (roughly the size of a quart mason jar is preferable), and any flowers of your own! Flowers will be provided but feel free to bring anything special you would like to use.
Depressive symptoms often present themselves through feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and despair. This course examines different types, common causes, symptoms, and treatment methods for depression, focusing on moving from a place of simply surviving to one of thriving.
Registration Required. To register, go to: www.vayahealth.com…
Or call Pack Memorial Library at 828-250-4718.
Facilitated by the Vaya Health GERO team. CEU’s are provided through NC Department of Health and Human Services.
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Join us at Eliada Home’s campus for a small group guided walking Farm Tour. Tours last approximately 1 hour. Participants will learn about outdoor and greenhouse growing practices, aquaponics, hydroponics, market gardening, corn maze production, and learn about our Animal Therapy program.
We will be meeting at the PARC building and walking to the different greenhouses, garden site, and a visit with our animals. Reservations required, tickets are $10 each visitor (to be collected at the time of the tour).
We recommend bringing the following: comfortable shoes for walking on pavement and grass, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. This tour is not handicap accessible and will require participants to climb stairs and walk on uneven ground.
We will begin out tour promptly at the starting time, so please arrive 5-10 min early to allow for parking and check-in. If you are running late or cannot make your tour, please email [email protected] or call #828-348-2287.
All proceeds from ticket sales from your farm tour go directly back to helping the Campus Farm Program grow more food for the children of Eliada!
Click above photo to sign up for a time slot and number of people in your group. Payment for tour will be collected when you arrive. Cards accepted.
This tour is best suited for school age children ages 10+ and adults.
Foot Care Clinic for older adults in the community with educational materials about healthy aging. Services include: – Toenail trimming – Filing calluses – Checking for common medical problems that impact mobility – Referrals to community services – Baseline cognitive assessments.
No registration required.
For more information about this free event, contact Shira Wolf-Camplin, [email protected], 828-771-2219
Whether you’re a Caregiver College graduate or are new to caregiving, we invite you to join us as we review and discuss the many resources provided in MemoryCare’s Caregiver College sessions. We’ll highlight the usefulness of these resources and how they can be applied to unique caregiving challenges.
Presented by Lindsey Kremer, MSW & Carly Woods, BSW, MemoryCare Care Managers
To register for this free event, click here.
For more information, call 828-771-2219 or email [email protected]

Are you looking for a way to develop your Spanish language skills or a way to keep your skills fresh? Join this friendly and welcoming Spanish Language Practice Group organized by Pack Library. Newcomers are always welcome on the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. This group meets online and is focused on providing an intermediate level, immersive discussion experience. This event is free, but you do need to register. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.
No cost due to sponsor support
Entrepreneurs have many opportunities to increase their “Top of Mind” status to successfully promote their business.
On a daily basis, it is your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive statement that you use to spark interest and a conversation in what your organization does. You can also use it to create interest in a project, idea or product – or in yourself. A good elevator pitch should last no longer than a short elevator ride of 60 seconds or less, hence the name. It should be interesting, memorable and succinct. It also needs to explain what makes you – or your organization, product or idea – unique. Elevator pitch can be used in day-to-day life when people ask what you do or at the upcoming Pitch Party to be held on day and date at Southern Appalachian Brewery from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
This seminar will also prepare you to verbally present your business for funding to a Local Bank, Microloan Organization i.e. Mountain Bizworks, Angel Investor Group or a Venture Capital Firm. “Build it and they will come” is not a good marketing strategy, it is better to pitch it.
Speaker(s): Gary Heisey Gary is the marketing and branding expert with his company Brand Door, teaches BRCC SBC Business Classes as Adjunct Faculty and serves as the Executive Director for the BRCC Mission Accelerator Program and 2022-2023 Vision Henderson County Program. Prior to this, Gary for eleven years was the award winning Blue Ridge Community College Small Business Director. During this time, he directed the BRCC Small Business Center, rated number one SBC training center out of 58 North Carolina Colleges across the state. Gary personally taught over 600 business seminars and assisted over 1,000 start-ups, growth and scale-up companies with management advice, branding, marketing, social media, access to capital, and business planning. Gary has been recognized by: • Small Business Administration • National Association of Entrepreneurship • 2016 North Carolina Community College Staff Person of the Year Award • 2014 Dr. Molly A. Parkhill Blue Ridge Community Staff Person of the Year • Mountain Bizworks (Former Board Chair, Board Member 2014-2020, Chair of the Lending Committee and served on the Executive Finance Committee) • SCORE (Service of Retired Executives) • Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurism (Western Carolina University)
Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce
Fee: No Cost

In the absence of consent, exploitation is what remains. When documenting communities, particularly those who are marginalized, there is the potential to either support or exploit said communities by our intention and actions behind the camera. This 4-part class series will explore themes within Gillian Laub’s Southern Rites exhibition, examples of both exploitation and consent, and offer feedback & perspective to current documentary projects. Particular to this class are discussions about racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia and other discussions around intersections of identities.
Please note:
- This class will be held via Zoom and requires participants to have a Zoom account and access to a computer with video/audio capabilities.
- This class series is intended for photographers of all levels, but some experience behind a camera is required.
- 2 seats for this class will be offered at $15 and priority will be given to BIPOC artists.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Jupiter “Jupe” Javeta is a Black, southern, queer, nonbinary person who resides in Albany, Georgia where they were born and raised. They are an artist, culture keeper, and community member who practices community healing through visual art, documentation, written work, and installations. Their visual work (photography and documentary short films) center reconciliation and reprieve for Black folks in the Deep South. Their written work centers grief as a ritual and rites process, and digs into the transformative potential of grieving. Their community work (events and arts spaces) focuses on marginalized communities and connecting people across those communities to places and spaces of rest, affirmation, and communion. In each modality, they are driven by a deep love for their people and a determination to reflect it back to the communities they come from.
ADULT STUDIO
The Museum’s studio program for adults offers a core curriculum in drawing, painting, printmaking, and three-dimensional media, and also explores the intersections between them. Local and visiting artists help students of all levels and abilities develop skills in media that reflect techniques and themes featured in the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. Classes meet for 3–12 weeks, and are designed for anyone interested in exploring specific media in depth; daylong workshops introduce new media or processes. To add your name to our Adult Studio mailing list, click here or call 828.253.3227 x133.
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Farmer-to-Farmer Training
WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture, straight from the hearts, mouths, and fields of seasoned local farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC).
Why join CRAFT?
- Network with beginning and experienced farmers to exchange your ideas and knowledge and build community in the region.
- Expand your training opportunities beyond your farm to bolster the robustness of your apprenticeship offerings.
- Attract aspiring farmers to your apprenticeship positions to cultivate success and improve the future of our region’s agriculture.

We recently wrapped up our 21-Day Stand Against Racism Challenge in April. The conversation moves forward with continuing the challenge because the work is far from over! As we became aware of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, it is again evident that the systems in place that already harm young women of color the most can be regressed even more by those with power today. In these crucial moments and always, knowledge is a way to take back power.
WE CHALLENGE YOU TO…
2 mins
Watch Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice shares The History of Reproductive Justice (RJ), a powerful video clearly communicating the definition of RJ, watch here.
10 mins
Check out Planned Parenthood’s article, Roe v. Wade at Risk: Nationwide Legal Abortion May Be a Thing of the Past. Access the article here.
13 mins
Consider this from NPR, which featured an article titled, Roe’s Legal Fate is Unclear. But Studies already Show Who’d Likely Be Hit the Hardest, read here.
42 mins
Listen. Parenting and Politics host Monica Simpson, a North Carolina Native and Executive Director of Sister Song. Sister Song is a Southern-based, national membership organization; our purpose is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities. Listen to the podcast here.
For more Continuing the Challenge resources click below:
What is the Stand Against Racism Challenge?
Many people are becoming newly aware of how systemic racism and violence are impacting people of color. Even if you are new to the conversation, that is OK. Our STand against racism challenge, formerly the 21 Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participants who sign up for the Challenge will receive daily tasks via email to help foster their understanding and awareness, with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. If you’ve already completed this challenge with us in the past please know that our challenge is designed to be taken multiple times by selecting different daily challenges in order to expand what you have previously learned. Follow this link for the resources.

Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.
Learn the history & technique of the origami peace crane. This is a drop in event and all supplies are provided. Come anytime between 10-NOON.
All ages are welcome. Children must have adult partners. The crane is a lovely but complicated fold – ideal for children 10 and up. There will be simpler designs for younger children to try.
See you at the Library!
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Join us at Eliada Home’s campus for a small group guided walking Farm Tour. Tours last approximately 1 hour. Participants will learn about outdoor and greenhouse growing practices, aquaponics, hydroponics, market gardening, corn maze production, and learn about our Animal Therapy program.
We will be meeting at the PARC building and walking to the different greenhouses, garden site, and a visit with our animals. Reservations required, tickets are $10 each visitor (to be collected at the time of the tour).
We recommend bringing the following: comfortable shoes for walking on pavement and grass, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. This tour is not handicap accessible and will require participants to climb stairs and walk on uneven ground.
We will begin out tour promptly at the starting time, so please arrive 5-10 min early to allow for parking and check-in. If you are running late or cannot make your tour, please email [email protected] or call #828-348-2287.
All proceeds from ticket sales from your farm tour go directly back to helping the Campus Farm Program grow more food for the children of Eliada!
Click above photo to sign up for a time slot and number of people in your group. Payment for tour will be collected when you arrive. Cards accepted.
This tour is best suited for school age children ages 10+ and adults.
Join us for this educational and fun guided drum session. No drumming experience needed. In this hour long session we will establish the foundations of rhythm and experiment with various concepts from there.
Registration is required and will be limited to 15 people to ensure we have enough instruments for everyone. Feel free to bring your own drum or percussion instrument.
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Farmer-to-Farmer Training
WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture, straight from the hearts, mouths, and fields of seasoned local farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC).
Why join CRAFT?
- Network with beginning and experienced farmers to exchange your ideas and knowledge and build community in the region.
- Expand your training opportunities beyond your farm to bolster the robustness of your apprenticeship offerings.
- Attract aspiring farmers to your apprenticeship positions to cultivate success and improve the future of our region’s agriculture.
Join the Blue Ridge Audubon, a chapter of the National Audubon Society for their monthly bird walk at Jackson Park, a renowned birding location. On the 2nd Saturday of each month, meet at the Administration Building parking lot, located on Glover Street, and join the group to see the many wonderful birds found at Jackson Park, Hendersonville’s largest park.
Join members of the Blue Ridge Audubon Society for this guided bird-watching excursion around the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary!
Binoculars are available for checkout at the North Asheville Library, but folks are welcome to bring their own! This event will be held rain or shine.
Spaces are limited, so registration is required.

We recently wrapped up our 21-Day Stand Against Racism Challenge in April. The conversation moves forward with continuing the challenge because the work is far from over! As we became aware of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, it is again evident that the systems in place that already harm young women of color the most can be regressed even more by those with power today. In these crucial moments and always, knowledge is a way to take back power.
WE CHALLENGE YOU TO…
2 mins
Watch Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice shares The History of Reproductive Justice (RJ), a powerful video clearly communicating the definition of RJ, watch here.
10 mins
Check out Planned Parenthood’s article, Roe v. Wade at Risk: Nationwide Legal Abortion May Be a Thing of the Past. Access the article here.
13 mins
Consider this from NPR, which featured an article titled, Roe’s Legal Fate is Unclear. But Studies already Show Who’d Likely Be Hit the Hardest, read here.
42 mins
Listen. Parenting and Politics host Monica Simpson, a North Carolina Native and Executive Director of Sister Song. Sister Song is a Southern-based, national membership organization; our purpose is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities. Listen to the podcast here.
For more Continuing the Challenge resources click below:
What is the Stand Against Racism Challenge?
Many people are becoming newly aware of how systemic racism and violence are impacting people of color. Even if you are new to the conversation, that is OK. Our STand against racism challenge, formerly the 21 Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participants who sign up for the Challenge will receive daily tasks via email to help foster their understanding and awareness, with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. If you’ve already completed this challenge with us in the past please know that our challenge is designed to be taken multiple times by selecting different daily challenges in order to expand what you have previously learned. Follow this link for the resources.

Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.

We’re excited to open our historic Echo Hill Farm to the public for the very first time to host “The Making of a Meadow for Pollinators”. This Pollinator Month Awareness event, coordinated with the help of Hendersonville Bee City USA, will focus on our efforts to transition our farm to a more ecologically friendly, sustainable, and ultimately more beautiful model.
Join us, and together we will explore our emerging meadow reconstruction, growing more abundant with life every day. We’ll look for natives, and identify problematic invasives.
Meet David Foti of Sandy Bee Mine Honey Company (www.sandybeemine.com) and learn about beekeeping, enjoy a local honey tasting, and see bees in action through a glass-walled exhibition hive!
Say hello to our mischievous little herd of Pygora fiber goats, and see if you can catch a glimpse of our heritage Lincoln Longwool ewes (so sweet, but very shy). Echoview Fiber Mill (www.echoviewnc.com) will be joining us for the day to showcase their fine clothing, yarn, accessories and gifts. We’ve admired Echoview Fiber Mill’s philosophy for years and we are thrilled and honored they will be a part of this awareness event.
In the New York Times Bestseller, Nature’s Best Hope, renowned entomologist, ecologist and conservationist, Douglas Tallamy challenges all of us to realize that conservation starts in your own yard. We’ll explore some ideas with the help of Snow Creek Landscaping. Snow Creek is on the cutting edge of green landscape and design here in Western North Carolina. Tim Boone, President of Snow Creek, has been recognized by documentarian Catherine Zimmerman of The Meadow Project (www.themeadowproject.com). Tim’s knowledge of native pants and ecosystems stems from his childhood, growing up right here in the mountains.
Screenings of Catherine’s documentary, Hometown Habitat – Stories of Bringing Nature Home, will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and the sweet harmonies of local musicians Sunlight Drive Acoustic Duo will keep us all singing from 11 s.m.to 2 p.m.
We’re thrilled with the level of response to this event and we’ll continue to expand the scope as best we can accommodate, but for now, let me just say thank you to The Meadow Project, Sandy Bee Mine Honey Company, Echoview Fiber Mill, Bullington Gardens, Bee City USA, Bridgeside Books, HomeSource Builders, eARThly Minds Gallery, Brew Naturals Elderberry Syrup, Imladris Farm, Sunlight Drive Acoustic Duo, HomeTrust Bank, VETS- Veterans Engaging Through Service, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Volunteers in Partnership, and all our friends and volunteers.
See you all in the meadow!

As kids, most of us probably chased fireflies in our backyards and held them in Mason jars to watch them flicker. But fireflies are much more than just childhood entertainment. They are among the most fascinating wildlife in the state of North Carolina. Join Dr. Clyde Sorenson, who discovered the existence of synchronous fireflies on Grandfather Mountain, to learn about the biology and life histories of some of the many fireflies found on Grandfather Mountain. Participants will also learn about the conservation challenges facing fireflies and what they can do to enhance firefly populations on one’s own property, before venturing out into the field to evaluate habitat for various species.
Clyde Sorenson is Alumni Association Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Entomology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, where he teaches both undergraduate and graduate students about the wonders of the insect world. He conducts research on the management of agriculturally significant insects, the ecology of insects in the longleaf pine savanna ecosystem and the distribution and ecology of fireflies in North Carolina.
Please note, this event is a daytime event and does not include nighttime firefly viewing opportunities.
Program Itinerary
10:00 a.m. Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions
10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Indoor and Outdoor Time
4:00 p.m. Program Concludes at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
Registration
This Adult Field Course costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club, plus sales tax. Attendance is limited to 15 participants. Registration opens here April 11. Purchase tickets below. Your program cost includes admission into the park, field instruction, and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. Tips are not accepted for field courses. However, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program.
What to Bring?
Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important. Please bring a daypack with enough room to carry extra clothing (i.e., extra layers, rain gear), water, lunch, camera, binoculars, etc. Also bring a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, portable chair or pad, field guide/notepad, hand lens and knife for close-up observations, and wax paper or paper bags (with basket or box) to wrap specimens in.
Refunds/Cancelations
The majority of Grandfather Mountain events generally sell out and have a waiting list. If you cannot attend the event that you registered for please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We ask that individuals who are feeling ill stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants and Grandfather Mountain staff. Refunds will be granted to these individuals.
More about Field Courses
Welcome to Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s (GMSF) Adult Field Courses! We are excited to share the unique wonders of the mountain with you. Since 2008, GMSF has aimed at creating educational programming that deepens understanding through in-depth study and field research. Our goal is to provide you with a rich experience in a particular field of study, and to also provide a safe and memorable trip to Grandfather Mountain. Read more.

Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers maintain a composting demonstration site at the Western NC Farmers Market, at the Jesse Israel & Sons Garden Center. After a two-year hiatus, due to Covid, the site is reinstituting public demonstrations, beginning April 9, 2022.
When to Visit?
The site is staffed and provides demonstrations from 10:00am to 1:00pm on the second Saturday each month, April through September.
What Will You See?
There are five different composting methods on display at the site. There is a single bin unit, a tumbling composter, a wood pallet bin and a classic 3-bin system — we also usually bring an example of vermiculture on each demo day. The site is stocked with informational pamphlets on the how-to and why of composting and they complement the information available in the composting video on this website. Click here to view the video: Making and Using Compost at Home.
An additional Composting demonstration area is located at The Learning Garden at the Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Click here for details about The Learning Garden.
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The center is teaming up with The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, to help families be more safety conscious, understand the risks their kids might face, and recognize the steps they can take to help avoid those risks.
The day will include valuable tips from several organizations including WNC Safe Kids. The non-profit will educate parents and caregivers on bike helmet safety. Attending children will receive free bike helmets (while supplies last). In addition, Child ID kits, fire trucks, free blood pressure screenings, self-defense exhibitions, disaster training and meet and greets with local law enforcement will also be a part of the day’s activities. Children can enjoy a complimentary cereal bar and hot dog giveaway.
All About Safety is complimentary and open to the public.
Join us as we explore the delights that watercolors offer. It’s a medium as old as art itself and perfectly suited for this time of year. Weather permitting we will work outside but the session can easily be moved indoors if need be.
The focus will be on various approaches to watercolor, some basic color mixing, and how to make your painting really “pop”! This 90 minute offering is open to all, from the beginner to the more experienced watercolorist just looking to expand their skills and paint with others. It will be led by James Cassara, who has almost 40 years experience as an art educator and artist. James is also the director of the Asheville Plein Air painting group, and LOVES sharing his tips and experience with others.
All materials will be provided.
Class size is limited and registration is required. This class is for adults and teens 16 years old and up.





