Whether you are new to this area or have lived here all your life, you may want to know more about the fauna and flora of our beautiful Swannanoa Valley and surrounding mountain lands. Too often we head off walking or hiking at a quick pace with a destination in mind, but this unique outing is more of a “ramble” through nature with an experienced guide – Luke Cannon.

An ethnobotanist and naturalist, Luke is a longtime pursuer and teacher of our living natural world and has a great understanding of the ecological intricacies in Appalachia. Spending time with Luke in the pastures and woodlands we will pass through will profoundly change your appreciation of how plants and fungi are shaped by their ecosystems while learning more about the birds, insects, reptiles, and animals we encounter.

This excursion along the beautiful Swannanoa Creek near Old Fort will be approximately four hours in length over gently sloped terrain, though with rocks and stream crossings to negotiate. Be prepared to be seated in the woods at times for demos and discussions. To facilitate interaction and a good experience for all the group will be limited to 20 or less.

We will meet at 9 AM at a spot near the trailhead and specific directions will be provided for those registered.

Time: 9:00am to approximately 1:00pm

Pricing: $50 for museum members, $65 for general admission. Some fees apply.

Meeting Location: Parking lot of Piney Grove Church near the terminus of Old US 70 West in Old Fort, NC 28762. More details will be provided to registrants.

Bring: Bring water, snacks, sturdy shoes or boots (there will be stream crossings) and hiking poles are recommended. You may also want something to sit on in the woods if the ground is damp. If you have a magnifying loupe you may want to bring it as well.

Speaker(s): TenBiz

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Fee: No Cost

Our Youth Production Classes offer youth theatrical instruction from the first audition to the last curtain call! All productions listed are performed by youth in middle and high school. We will be offering TWO sessions of The Giver – 1 session for middle school students, and one session for high school students. Classes will meet afterschool, and each session will end with two performances on the Mainstage!

Registration for both sessions will begin on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Tuition will be $350.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available. 

Middle School Cast:
Please note: Advanced level memorization is required for this class. Most roles will not be split and the number of lines each performer will be expected to memorize may be larger than in past middle school Youth Performance Classes.

Directed by: Michael Jorizzo
Classes/rehearsals: Meet Monday and Wednesday afternoons March 14-May 11, 2022 from 4:30-6:00 pm
Tech Week: Monday, May 16 – Thursday, May 19, 2022; 4:30-6:30 pm each night
Performances: Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 2:30 pm and Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 6:30 pm

This is Home: Western North Carolina, Past and Present is a 2022 online lecture series that explores key historical, cultural and ecological aspects of the Western North Carolina region. In this series, researchers and experts from across the country present on the human and natural forces that have shaped the region, bringing these histories into a present-day context. This year, learn more about the place you call home by exploring topics including the Cherokee language, human history along the French Broad River, the formation of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, the history of African-American communities in the region and much more.

When & Where: WNC, Past and Present lectures take place Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm EDT, online via zoom.

Cost: Tickets are $10 for museum members, and $15 for the general public. Some fees apply. Each lecture will be recorded and will be made available to attendees after the event. Scholarships for each lecture are available for students, veterans, BIPOC, and seniors. Please email [email protected] to request a scholarship for a lecture or lectures

This class will be offered in person on the ACT Mainstage, following all the recommended protocols for safety and sanitation. Limited to 10 students. For ages 18+.

This course covers the fundamentals of improvisational acting with an emphasis on comedy; such as listening, commitment, intuitive reaction, as well as recognizing and capitalizing on emerging patterns. Final showcase to be held on Friday, May 27, 2022. Tuition will be $180.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Ages 18+ April 18- May 23, 2022 | Mondays at 6:30-8:30 PM

Compost at Home with Patryk Battle. Join the Organic Growers School for their second Summer class in their Gardening Series.

In this workshop, Patryk Battle of Living Web Farms will walk you through a comprehensive overview of the requirements, benefits, and downsides of various composting methods. Then, he will take a deeper dive into thermophilic and worm composting systems.

You will have an opportunity to construct a thermophilic pile and set up a worm box during class, as well as evaluate the quality of the finished compost product. You will leave with a lot more confidence about which approaches to composting work best for your garden, and with the knowledge to start up your own pile!

May 10, 2022, 6-8pm
Smith Mill Works Greenhouse

https://organicgrowersschool.org/product/gardening-may/

Ages 18+ April 19-May 24, 2022 | Tuesdays at 6:30-8:30 PM

This class will be offered in person on the ACT Mainstage, following all the recommended protocols for safety and sanitation. Limited to 10 students. For ages 18+.

PREREQUISITE: Improv I or extensive improv experience (*must be pre-approved by instructor)

Improv II reinforces all of the skills learned in Improv 1 by applying those skills to advanced scene work, character creation structures, and at times intentionally conflict-filled scenarios. Final showcase to be held on Friday, May 27, 2022. Tuition will be $180.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Registration for this class will open on Wednesday, March 16 at 10:00 am.

Every day, the food we eat connects us to a vast web of farmers, traders, food manufacturers, retailers, and many other people involved. Issues involving feeding our community, providing a livelihood for farmers, and protecting the environment must be tackled together. So, how do we build sustainable, local food systems that benefit farmers, consumers, and the land?

Join us to learn how SAHC’s farmland programs are helping to build local food systems through opportunities to access farmland, and hear about the history of how our farmland work started and where we are headed.

SAHC Community Farm Manager Chris Link will discuss the complexities of small-scale agribusinesses and why it’s more important than ever to support our local farmers.

Our Youth Production Classes offer youth theatrical instruction from the first audition to the last curtain call! All productions listed are performed by youth in middle and high school. We will be offering TWO sessions of The Giver – 1 session for middle school students, and one session for high school students. Classes will meet afterschool, and each session will end with two performances on the Mainstage!

Registration for both sessions will begin on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Tuition will be $350.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available. 

Middle School Cast:
Please note: Advanced level memorization is required for this class. Most roles will not be split and the number of lines each performer will be expected to memorize may be larger than in past middle school Youth Performance Classes.

Directed by: Michael Jorizzo
Classes/rehearsals: Meet Monday and Wednesday afternoons March 14-May 11, 2022 from 4:30-6:00 pm
Tech Week: Monday, May 16 – Thursday, May 19, 2022; 4:30-6:30 pm each night
Performances: Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 2:30 pm and Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 6:30 pm

Summer is around the corner and lifeguards are in high demand. Sign up to take our spring, Red Cross certified, lifeguard course today. Class is available to ages 15 and up. The class dates are May 11-15, with a Pre-test on May 11, 7-8 pm. The cost is $250 and includes your own Resuscitation mask.

Contact Kitty Schmidt, Director of Aquatics to register or call 828.254.7206 ext 115.

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.

Anxiety can be a debilitating force in life and at times, so debilitating that it interferes with the ability to manage one’s own activities of daily living. When this happens, it’s important to know that there are supports available to treat and assist in the management of symptoms. This free workshop focuses on different types of anxiety disorders and specifically details ones more commonly seen in older adults. The class will also cover interventions available to assist in calming the anxious mind.

These events will be facilitated by the Vaya Health GERO team. CEU’s are provided through NC Department of Health and Human Services. The workshops are free, but you do need to register here.

Workshop information

Thursday, May 12 at 10:30 AM
Pack Memorial Library – 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
(828) 250-4700

Tuesday, May 24 at 1:00 PM
Enka-Candler Library – 1404 Sandhill Rd. – Candler
(828) 250-4758

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.

Beginning in early 1942, Axis diplomats, consular staff, and families—particularly Japanese and Germans living in Central and Latin America, along with many individuals of Japanese descent living in Hawaii—were detained in several inns or resorts in southern Appalachia and WNC. Among these facilities, many were transported to the Grove Park Inn and the Assembly Inn at Montreat. This program specifically focuses on the predominantly Japanese-American individuals detained and housed at Montreat 1942-1943 as they awaited exchange or repatriation.

About the Speaker:

Ronald Vinson has served as Executive Director of the Presbyterian Heritage Center in Montreat since 2007. The Presbyterian Heritage Center at Montreat is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization to educate (onsite and online) people about the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage, the church’s tradition of worldwide mission and the history of Montreat.

Ron has served as consultant to many museums and clients on historical projects, including:

• The Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution
• The National Center for the Study of History
• Discovery Place
• The Schiele Museum of Natural History
• Gaston County Museum of Art & History
• North Carolina Business Hall of Fame
• Centennial of Golf (Golf Magazine, PGA et al)
• Insurance Information Institute (Bicentennial of Insurance) Columbia Theological Seminary
• North Carolina Business Hall of Fame

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: Several Japanese women and girls at Montreat, courtesy Presbyterian Heritage Center)

For questions or more information, email Trevor Freeman at [email protected]

Summer is around the corner and lifeguards are in high demand. Sign up to take our spring, Red Cross certified, lifeguard course today. Class is available to ages 15 and up. The class dates are May 11-15, with a Pre-test on May 11, 7-8 pm. The cost is $250 and includes your own Resuscitation mask.

Contact Kitty Schmidt, Director of Aquatics to register or call 828.254.7206 ext 115.