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.

Find fresh, local produce and handcrafted goods each Thursday through
October in Flat Rock. This market is made of a diverse group of local produce farmers, makers, bread bakers, wild crafters and
merry makers. You will love the friendly, informative, creative vendors that set up for the market. Be sure you stop by each one to
introduce yourself and ask questions, Free, Pinecrest ARP Church, Hendersonville, [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.
Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Thursday, June 2 at 6PM as we kick off our month of Pride and LGBTQ+ history programming. This event airs live via Zoom.
West of Asheville there has been little research on LGBTQ history or activism. Just last year, Dr. Travis Rountree and colleagues from Western Carolina received an internal grant to expand drag performer oral narratives to include other LGBTQ+ voices from Jackson County, NC. Our speaker will talk about how collecting these voices helped to recognize LGBTQ groups established from the 1960s to current, newly formed, local LGBTQ organizations. He will also touch upon how these narratives helped to spark the first ever Sylva Pride (the first Pride to occur west of Asheville) in addition to a local community production inspired by some of these voices. These collections and events are critical in recognizing the past and present LGBTQ voices of Western NC.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Travis A. Rountree is an assistant professor in the English Department at Western Carolina University. He earned his PhD from the University of Louisville, his MA in English from Appalachian State University with a certificate in Appalachian Studies, and his BA in English from James Madison University with a minor in American Studies. He is from Richmond, Virginia, but lived in Boone, NC for 9 years.
Dr. Rountree’s research interests include queer archival research and pedagogy, Appalachian rhetorics, place-based pedagogy, and public memory studies. He has been published in The North Carolina Folklore Journal, Journal of Southern History, and Appalachian Journal. He continues to work on his manuscript under contract with University Press of Kentucky titled Hard to See Through the Smoke: Rhetorical Remembering of the 1912 Hillsville, Virginia Courthouse Shootout.
He enjoys running, weight lifting, and gardening. He is an avid fan of old time, bluegrass, and country music and lives in Sylva, NC with his two cats.
Tickets: $5 for WNCHA members/ $10 for General Admission. We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Viewing: Registrants will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. It will also be recorded and later available on our website.
(Image: “Lavender Bridges First Year Anniversary” courtesy Western Carolina University, Hunter Library Digital Collections)
Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Thursday, June 2 at 6PM as we kick off our month of Pride and LGBTQ+ history programming. This event airs live via Zoom.
West of Asheville there has been little research on LGBTQ history or activism. Just last year, Dr. Travis Rountree and colleagues from Western Carolina received an internal grant to expand drag performer oral narratives to include other LGBTQ+ voices from Jackson County, NC. Our presenters will talk about how collecting these voices helped to recognize LGBTQ groups established from the 1960s to current, newly formed, local LGBTQ organizations. They will also touch upon how these narratives helped to spark the first ever Sylva Pride (the first Pride to occur west of Asheville) in addition to a local community production inspired by some of these voices. These collections and events are critical in recognizing the past and present LGBTQ voices of Western NC.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Travis A. Rountree is an assistant professor in the English Department at Western Carolina University. He earned his PhD from the University of Louisville, his MA in English from Appalachian State University with a certificate in Appalachian Studies, and his BA in English from James Madison University with a minor in American Studies. He is from Richmond, Virginia, but lived in Boone, NC for 9 years.
Dr. Rountree’s research interests include queer archival research and pedagogy, Appalachian rhetorics, place-based pedagogy, and public memory studies. He has been published in The North Carolina Folklore Journal, Journal of Southern History, and Appalachian Journal. He continues to work on his manuscript under contract with University Press of Kentucky titled Hard to See Through the Smoke: Rhetorical Remembering of the 1912 Hillsville, Virginia Courthouse Shootout.
He enjoys running, weight lifting, and gardening. He is an avid fan of old time, bluegrass, and country music and lives in Sylva, NC with his two cats.
Sarah Steiner is the gender and sexuality studies specialist at Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library. She also coordinates the Jackson County LGBTQ+ archive at WCU.
Tickets: $5 for WNCHA members/ $10 for General Admission. We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Viewing: Registrants will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. It will also be recorded and later available on our website.
(Image: “Lavender Bridges First Year Anniversary” courtesy Western Carolina University, Hunter Library Digital Collections)

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.
Presenter: Carol Brown, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
If you’re looking to expand your garden and want a quick and inexpensive project, consider using the building method known as wattle. Wattling has been used for centuries and involves weaving thin, whippy branches around 2×2 inch stakes. It’s a project you can do by yourself, or as a way to get your kids involved in the garden. This short video shows you all you need to know to get started.
Video access:
To access this video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link below:
Building a Wattle Gardening Bed
Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org , click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page and select the video from the list provided

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.
House of Operation:
WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

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.

Speakers
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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.

Speakers
The Saluda Tailgate market features growers from both Polk and Henderson counties. It is an agriculture-only market meeting every Friday from May through October, 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the city’s West Main Parking lot. Local producers are connected with consumers to keep food dollars in the community and support regional fresh food and family farms, thereby protecting the flourishing of beautiful ridges, fertile fields and clean watersheds. Cash, credit/debit, and EBT cards are all accepted with a Polk County Community Foundation grant often doubling EBT value.
The market has been a spring to fall Saluda tradition since 2010, with neighbors gathering to meet growers and purchase a complete and balanced array of meat, fish, poultry, eggs and cheese, seasonal vegetables and fruit, baked and preserved goods, flowers, herbs, and plants for the home gardener.
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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.
Presenter: Carol Brown, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
If you’re looking to expand your garden and want a quick and inexpensive project, consider using the building method known as wattle. Wattling has been used for centuries and involves weaving thin, whippy branches around 2×2 inch stakes. It’s a project you can do by yourself, or as a way to get your kids involved in the garden. This short video shows you all you need to know to get started.
Video access:
To access this video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link below:
Building a Wattle Gardening Bed
Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org , click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page and select the video from the list provided
This is the 43rd year for this weekly tailgate market, where vendors sell fresh-picked seasonal vegetables and fruit, local honey, cut flowers, plant starts and more!
Welcome to Western NC’s most premier farmers market!
Since 1980, we have been providing Asheville and the surrounding area with a full range of local, sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, plants, prepared foods and crafts. Day vendors complement the members’ offerings with additional products and services.
The North Asheville Tailgate Market is a weekly, Saturday morning gathering of the best farmers, craftsmen, and bakers. With over 40 vendors and more than 40,000 annual customers, the market’s energetic and warm environment welcomes all.

The Hendersonville Farmers Market aims to be a world-class
market that contributes to the success of local producers and growers, expands access to farm fresh foods, and creates a
vibrant community gathering space. With fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, live entertainment, food trucks, and more,
it’s a weekly outing with something for everybody, In addition to the many market vendors at this open-air market, Bee City USAHendersonville will have a booth with information on pollinator gardening, make-n-takes for the kids, and free pollinator-friendly
seed packets while supplies last. Elle Travis will host a reading of her Nature Connections books; Loretta Zedella will have
Butterfly Flight Wings for sale; Honeybee Bliss will feature a live observation beehive for viewing; Milkweed Meadows Farm will
have pollinator plants for sale; Artist Elizabeth Queen will discuss the nearby pollinator-inspired sidewalk mural Shanti Elixirs will
give away 24 bottles of Jun, their seasonal honey elixir, to the first 24 customers that come in costume and use the code word
“Save the Bees,” Free, Located outside the Historic Train Depot, Hendersonville,

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.
House of Operation:
WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

After two pandemic years operating as ASAP Farmers Market at A-B Tech, Asheville City Market will return downtown on April 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. Every Saturday, N. Market St. will be closed between Woodfin and E. Walnut streets. Customers can enjoy open-air shopping for local goods from nearly 50 vendors, including farmers, artisan food makers, services, and more.
In addition to in-season fruits and vegetables, vendors from across Western North Carolina provide specialty products like cheese, eggs, grassfed meat and pastured pork, rice, pasta, artisan bread, honey, plants, body care products, and much more. As a producer-only market, each vendor has a personal hand in growing, raising, or crafting their products, giving customers the opportunity to connect directly with farmers and other local producers. A weekly list of vendors is available by subscribing to the market’s newsletter at asapconnections.org.
Asheville City Market will offer ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables, which matches SNAP dollars with tokens that can be used for produce. For instance, if a SNAP customer swipes their EBT card for $10, they will receive $10 in SNAP tokens as well as $10 in Farm Fresh Bucks. SNAP tokens may be used for SNAP-eligible products from any vendor, including produce, meat, cheese, eggs, bread, plants, and more. Farm Fresh Bucks may only be used for fruits and vegetables.
Free parking for customers is available at HomeTrust Bank and Family Justice Center (across from the YMCA at 35 Woodfin St.). There are bus stops on the N1 and N2 routes one block away, on Broadway

COME CELEBRATE!
OPEN FROM MAY – NOVEMBER :: 9AM – NOON


Our market is a seasonal Saturday morning community event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items. A family event every Saturday from May through November.
Visit us on Facebook!

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.
As part of Pollinator Month in Hendersonville, participate in a Pollinator Walk-n-Talk at
Bullington Gardens, Meet at the information kiosk near the brick house to take a guided stroll through the pollinator trail,
Afterwards, enjoy the woodland nature trail, Sally’s Garden, horticultural therapy gardens, the Fairy Trail, and more, Suitable for
all ages, no registration required, Children must be accompanied by an adult, Free but donations are always welcome,

See the WNC Nature Center like never before, behind the scenes! The tour includes learning about how we feed and care for the animals (including the predators, such as the mountain lion), an animal enrichment session, and exclusive interactions with the keepers that care for our animals. Tickets include admission for the day and takes place mainly outdoors.
The tour is for ages 14 and up. Masks are encouraged indoors, and required when are near the animals.
*Cancellation policy: Cancellations must be made 1 week prior to the event for a full refund. If the event is cancelled due to weather or COVID related concerns, full refunds will be issue
Join us in our new monthly social swing event on the 1st Saturdays of every month, The
music, open vintage space and wood floors and is guaranteed to have you dancing East Coast and/or Lindy all night long, A free
lesson is offered to kick things off and will include a different combination of moves each time, No partner or rhythm needed and
dress is casual, $10 for lesson and/or social dance.
Hosted in conjunction with Sutton’s first annual Blue Ridge Guitar Camp taking place June 1-5, the NC Guitar Celebration will honor pioneers of bluegrass music’s past while showcasing present day visionaries. In the spirit of life-long learning, the GRAMMY-winning instrumentalist and nine-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year has invited pickers of all styles and specialities to seek new and inspiring collaborations. With a revue-style format, music fans can prepare for a first-of-its kind experience featuring some of the most decorated showmen in roots music today.
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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.

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.
House of Operation:
WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week






