Have you ever traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway and admired the rustic stone used for guard rails and for most of the older bridges? The Ashe County Arts Center is one of several buildings in West Jefferson that was built with a similar type of stone and has the same pure Appalachian feel as the Blue Ridge Parkway. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the New Deal and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to help put American people to work. Thanks to the WPA, the building that now houses the Ashe County Arts Center, along with several other buildings in West Jefferson, was constructed.
Located at the corner of Main Street, 6th Avenue, and School Avenue, the Ashe County Art Council’s Art Center adds a vibrant artistic touch to downtown West Jefferson. Walking inside this historic building, visitors will enjoy a wide variety of art exhibitions or art competitions that rotate every six weeks throughout the year. “Best of the Blue Ridge,” and a youth exhibition called “Young at Art” are two of the most prominent events held at the Ashe County Arts Center. A gallery shop is also in the arts center, allowing visitors the opportunity to purchase masterpieces from over 100 artists from across the region. In addition to beautiful physical displays, the historic building is home to multiple concerts and literary events every year. For a full schedule of events, visit ashecountyarts.org.
More on the Ashe County Arts Center and Arts Council
The Ashe County Arts Council is a non-profit organization that exists to “enrich the cultural life of the region.” The organization fulfills its mission by offering leadership, collaboration opportunities, and growth through the arts in Ashe County. The Ashe County Arts Council has helped to foster barn quilt artwork, murals, and other forms of public art throughout the area. Here at Ashe High Country Realty, we’re happy to have an organization like the Ashe County Arts Council active in our community!
Source: ashecountyarts.org
