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UPCOMING EVENTS
Youth Theatre Camp 2025
Jul 7
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTER BY JUNE 23

CAMP DATES July 7 - 18

AACA’s annual Youth Theatre Camp for grades 6* - 12 is an area favorite. Campers enjoy two weeks of classes in acting, improvisation, stage combat, music, movement, and stage craft with directors Bob Borwick, Kelly Borwick, and Pam Thigpen. The camp ends with a performance of the musical “All Summer in a Day" on Friday, July 18 at 7:00 PM.

*Students who are 11 years old or older as of July 31 are eligible for camp.

The Arts Center
Visual Arts Mini Camp K-5
Jul 21
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

SOLD OUT

CAMP DATES July 21 - 25

Dress for a mess and join AACA instructor Emma Stratton for five days of visual arts projects in a variety of mediums and styles. Grades K-2 meet at 9:00 AM, Grades 3-5 meet at noon. The camp ends with a collective exhibit on Friday during last 30 minutes of camp at The Arts Center.

The Arts Center
Visual Arts Mini Camp 6-12
Jul 28
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTER BY JULY 18

CAMP DATES July 28 - August 1

Join us for five days of visual arts projects in a variety of mediums and styles. Grades 6 - 8 meet at 9:00 AM. Grades 9 - 12 meet at noon. The camp ends with a collective exhibit on Friday during last 30 minutes of camp at The Arts Center.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Kids Ceramics
Jul 31
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
KIDS CERAMICS

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
August 2, 10 AM - NOON

Let’s use handbuilding methods to make a clay mug! We’ll use texture techniques to decorate and learn the slip and score method for attaching the handle. Choose your favorite food safe studio glaze color during class and then your mug will be finished and kiln fired by the teacher. Students will be notified when their creations are ready for pickup, approximately 6 - 7 weeks after the class.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Beginning Acrylic Painting
Aug 1
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
BEGINNING ACRYLIC PAINTING

REGISTER NOW

Class dates: THURSDAYS
August 7 - September 11, 4:30 - 6:30 PM

In this 6‐week class, students will be introduced to the basics of Acrylic painting with new lessons each week in techniques to develop a set of skills. Those skills will lead to students creating their own unique acrylic paintings.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Date Night Pottery
Aug 7
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
DATE NIGHT POTTERY

REGISTER NOW

Class date: FRIDAY
August 8, 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Have an adventure with your partner in crime for one price! In this class, each of you will create a one of a kind object on the pottery wheel! Students will collectively choose a glaze color for the instructor to finish.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Pottery Wheel
Aug 8
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - POTTERY WHEEL

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Class date: SATURDAY
August 9, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
TWO: A Concert of Duets
Aug 8
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

BUY TICKETS

Two is twice as good as one in this concert featuring a collection of duets from compelling folk tunes to showstopping ballads.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Build a Mug
Aug 15
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - Build a Mug

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
August 16, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
Matilda The Musical
Aug 15
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

BUY TICKETS

Matilda The Musical revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life.

The Arts Center
Auditions: The Mousetrap
Aug 18
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

AUDITIONS

AUDITION FORM

Agatha Christie’s whodunit set in a snow-bound guest house is the longest-running play of all time and is riddled with mystery.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Date Night Pottery
Aug 21
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
DATE NIGHT POTTERY

REGISTER NOW

Class date: FRIDAY
August 22, 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Have an adventure with your partner in crime for one price! In this class, each of you will create a one of a kind object on the pottery wheel! Students will collectively choose a glaze color for the instructor to finish.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Pottery Wheel
Aug 22
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - POTTERY WHEEL

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
August 23, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
RECEPTION The Magic of Watercolor
Aug 22
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

RECEPTION The Magic of Watercolor

Get lost in the magic of watercolor with an exhibit members of the Tennessee Watercolor Society. The artists present fresh work that hasn’t been exhibited anywhere else—so even if you’ve seen their work you won’t have seen THIS work.

The Arts Center
RECEPTION Trouble! at Coal Creek
Aug 22
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

RECEPTION Trouble! at Coal Creek

Trouble! at Coal Creek unpacks the true events of the Coal Creek War, showcases the art from the graphic novel by Austin Sauerbrei, and breaks down the artist’s creative process and what he learned along the way.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Date Night Pottery
Sep 4
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
DATE NIGHT POTTERY

REGISTER NOW

Class date: FRIDAY
September 5, 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Have an adventure with your partner in crime for one price! In this class, each of you will create a one of a kind object on the pottery wheel! Students will collectively choose a glaze color for the instructor to finish.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Build a Mug
Sep 5
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - Build a Mug

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
September 6, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Pottery Wheel
Sep 12
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - POTTERY WHEEL

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
September 13, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
SETH MULDER & MIDNIGHT RUN
Sep 12
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

Seth Mulder and Midnight Run

BUY TICKETS

This group’s tight style fuses bluegrass, classic country, and folk to resonate with traditionalists and new audiences alike.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Handbuilding Pottery
Sep 13
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
HANDBUILDING POTTERY

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Class dates: TUESDAYS
September 16 - October 28, 1:00 - 3:30 PM

This 7-week course includes techniques such as pinch pots, slab rolling, coil pots, and using patterns for the form. Learn decoration methods using texture tools and stencils. All finished pieces will be glazed and fired.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Pottery Wheel
Sep 15
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
POTTERY WHEEL

REGISTER NOW

Class dates: THURSDAYS
September 18 - October 30, 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Learn to throw clay on a potter’s wheel! We’ll cover the foundations of wheel work, including wedging and centering clay, as well as forming cylinders, cups and bowls. Basic glazing information will help you finish your final forms. No prior clay experience necessary! Beginners and those looking for a refresher course in wheel-throwing are welcome!

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Date Night Pottery
Sep 18
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
DATE NIGHT POTTERY

REGISTER NOW

Class date: FRIDAY
September 19, 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Have an adventure with your partner in crime for one price! In this class, each of you will create a one of a kind object on the pottery wheel! Students will collectively choose a glaze color for the instructor to finish.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Build a Mug
Sep 19
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - Build a Mug

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
September 20, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Get your hands dirty - Pottery Wheel
Sep 26
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Get Your Hands Dirty - POTTERY WHEEL

REGISTER NOW

Class date: SATURDAY
September 27, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make your very own pottery! This one-day class is perfect for those who have never made pottery and want to try hand building techniques, or are looking for a refresher.

The Arts Center
RECEPTION Open Exhibit
Oct 24
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

RECEPTION Open Exhibit

PROSPECTUS DEADLINE SEP 3

An annual competition and exhibit of for artists in McMinn and surrounding counties.

The Arts Center
The Mousetrap
Oct 24
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

TICKETS GO ON SALE SEP 12

Agatha Christie’s whodunit set in a snow-bound guest house is the longest-running play of all time and is riddled with mystery.

The Arts Center
Auditions: Annie
Nov 10
The Arts Center
The Arts Center

AUDITIONS

Audition form will be available in September 2025.

This worldwide phenomenon and winner of seven Tonys including “Best Musical” is a triumphant story with beloved music and treasured characters.

The Arts Center

Upcoming Events

Athens Area Council for the Arts began in 1979 as an idea in a living room…

And quickly grew to an office in a closet on Tennessee Wesleyan College campus. As our organization expanded, we moved to an office in the historic Robert E. Lee Hotel in Downtown Athens and developed a strong arts in education program, children’s programming, the long-running “Arts in the Park,” and presented a touring performing arts series. In 2005, Athens Area Council for the Arts moved into “The Arts Center,” in the location of the former Harrod’s grocery store.

Image of a vintage grocery bag. The bag has the image of a sign that reads "Harrod's Thrift Market & Bakery" Below the sign is an arrow that reads, "Customer Parking." The sign is rooted in a brick planter with green foliage.

Our mission is to enrich the quality of life and make a difference for our community by providing opportunities for the expression and appreciation of the arts.

Once we had a home in The Arts Center, AACA grew from an organization of big ideas and vision to a premiere visual, educational, and performing arts organization in our region.

By 2019, AACA was quickly outgrowing The Arts Center, so we purchased the three adjacent buildings.

The expanded Arts Center will celebrate its grand opening in September 2024 thanks to the generous support of our Capital Campaign donors.

An architect's rendering of the remodeled facade of The Arts Center. The three purchased buildings have been transformed with newly painted brick (red, light gray, and dark gray), and you can just make out a mural on the side of the end building.