REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Beginning Oil Painting
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Beginning Oil Painting
Class dates: TUESDAYS
February 3 - March 10, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
In this 6‐week class, students will be introduced to the basics of Alla Prima (Direct) painting with oils. Each week we’ll study a new technique to help you develop a set of skills that will lead you to create your own unique oil paintings. All materials are included.
RECEPTION for Unconfined
RECEPTION
Unconfined: An Exhibit by Calvin Walton
Calvin Walton’s artistic journey is a continuous evolution—a commitment to honing the gift of creating. Each piece is a vibrant expression of his vision, bringing forth powerful and vivid creations that invite viewers to engage with the world through his eyes.
RECEPTION for Roots, Rocks and Rivers
RECEPTION
Roots, Rocks and Rivers: An Exhibit by Bill Long
Inspired by his frequent travels into the depths of Appalachia, Bill Long has created dozens of creative interpretations of the many pristine, beautiful mountain creeks he has encountered along the way. These works are the culmination of his prolific work in natural realism.
SONGWRITER’S NIGHT WITH KYSHONA
Songwriter’s Night with Kyshona
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An intimate evening with singer-songwriters sharing original music, curated by Kyshona Armstrong.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
Seasons of Love - Our Three Tenors
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Our Three Tenors, Tim Frazier, Rusty Patterson, and Mike Simmons, perform their first full-length concert in more than five years, celebrating love in all its forms.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Registration for each event is encouraged but not required.
Annie
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This worldwide phenomenon and winner of seven Tonys including “Best Musical” is a triumphant story with beloved music and treasured characters.
Auditions: Steel Magnolias
AUDITIONS
Part comedy and part drama, Robert Harling’s classic examines the bond between six women in a small southern town.
2026 Arts Gala
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Celebrate the arts with us! Your generous bids on auction items supports community arts and arts education! Cocktail hour is at 6:30 PM when the silent auction opens. Bid on curated items, enjoy a fancy dinner, and dance the night away with a live band! The annual Arts Gala is a black-tie optional dressy affair.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: ARTSPLORATIONS Visual Arts Workshops
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Spring 2026 Artsplorations
(March 17 & 19)
Join us for a la carte visual arts workshops during Spring Break (March 17 & 19) taught by local art instructors. You can sign up for one or both days. Cost is tiered Pay What You Can.
RECEPTION for The Stars of David Project
RECEPTION
The Stars of David Project
The number six million is both overwhelming and abstract. It is recited in books, museums, and classrooms, but the human weight of that number is nearly impossible to hold. By drawing each star, the artist insists on slowing down to acknowledge every single life. Each star is imperfect, each one slightly different, and each one created with intention, because each person was singular, irreplaceable, and part of the Jewish story that continues to shape us.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Registration for each event is encouraged but not required.
Arts on the Side ON TOUR
ARTS ON THE SIDE ON TOUR
This free gathering includes dinner catered by ARAMARK and the premiere performance of the string quartet and dance of “The Great Space,” composed by Ben Jones with choreography by Becca Hoback at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Everyone is invited to come enjoy FREE dinner and arts program.
Proof
TICKETS GO ON SALE FEB 13
This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play is an intelligent and compelling story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.
RECEPTION Student Art Show
RECEPTION Student Art Show
See art by area middle school, high school, and college artists!
Artists: Please enter work by February 18, 2026.
Steel Magnolias
TICKETS GO ON SALE MAR 6
Steel Magnolias is alternately hilarious and touching—and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Registration for each event is encouraged but not required.
RECEPTION EXPOSURE
RECEPTION EXPOSURE
EXPOSURE is a curated and judged photography exhibit for amateur and professional photographers.
Artists: Please enter work by March 18, 2026.
Evening with the Stars
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This perennial favorite auditioned variety show is back—for all ages—by popular demand.
Table Read: The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank
Tony Award for Best Play and Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner. This staged adaptation of the posthumously published book “Diary of a Young Girl” details Anne Frank’s life in hiding in Nazi occupied Amsterdam during World War II. We are reading the play for Holocaust Remembrance Month.
Now We Juke-ing!
THURSDAY/FRIDAY SOLD OUT
SATURDAY/SUNDAY POSTPONED
INFORMATION ABOUT POSTPONEMENT
Written and directed by Cynthia McCowan, “Now We Juke-ing!” tells real-life stories of how growing up in North Mississippi juke joints shaped the cultural perspective of a young Black girl.
“Now We Juke-ing!” is rated PG-13
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
Table Read: Vonya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Vonya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Middle-aged siblings Vonya and Sonia share a home where they complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up leading to threats to sell the house.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Watercolor Studio
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Studio Watercolor
Class dates: THURSDAYS
January 15 and 22, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Explore and develop your painting expertise during this 2 week watercolor class! The class emphasizes critique, compositional elements, and developing unity in a painting. Students should be prepared with supplies weekly.
Auditions: Proof
AUDITIONS
This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play is an intelligent and compelling story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Pottery Wheel
CLASS FULL
Pottery Wheel
Class dates: WEDNESDAYS
January 14 - February 25, 6:00 - 8:30 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!
MIC DROP: The Women Who Rule Music
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A diverse collection of songs spans genres and decades, and shares a defining trait: they were written or made popular by women.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Intermediate Pottery Wheel
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Intermediate Pottery Wheel
REGISTER NOW
Class dates: MONDAYS
January 12 - February 23, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Designed for students who have taken the 7-week Beginner Pottery Wheel class with our instructor, Patricia Shook. All materials are included. Students will be given one 25lb block of clay.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
Make Collage Ornaments
MAKE COLLAGE ORNAMENTS
Pop by The Arts Center and make a personalized collage ornament during Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas.
A Soulful Christmas
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A festive Christmas concert with the heart of Gospel and the groove of R&B; this is a celebration of love, community, and the soulful sounds of the season.
RECEPTION for THE MAGIC OF WOOL
RECEPTION for THE MAGIC OF WOOL
An Exhibit by Iliyana Skrobanska
Iliyana Skrobanska was born and raised in Bulgaria. She founded Dixon's LTD in 1994 and worked as its CEO through 2014. The company produced fashion clothes for different boutiques in Sofia, Bulgaria. When she moved to USA in 2014, she began "painting" with wool as a means to express her artistic vision by making landscape and abstract art.
RECEPTION for A Photography Exhibit
RECEPTION
A Photography Exhibit by Brian K. Miller
Brian has been described by National Geographic as one of “our finest…photographers,” and he was featured in their book Heart of a Nation: Writers and Photographers Inspired by the American Landscape. As a self-taught photographer, Brian has traveled the world seeking images that reflect his creative passions. With a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Ecology, Brian has been taking nature, wildlife and travel images from around the world, including the United States, Canada, Africa, Russia, South America, and Asia.
Table Read: Mean Girls The Musical
Mean Girls
Consider this your invitation from Regina George herself to check out the fiercely hilarious musical from book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). Please note: this table read is rated PG-13.
Arts on the Side
ARTS ON THE SIDE
This free gathering includes soup supper catered by ARAMARK, 3 arts activities, and a table read. The Arts Center invites everyone to come enjoy dinner, tour our facility, learn about our programs, and enjoy free arts programs.
Auditions: Annie
AUDITIONS
This worldwide phenomenon and winner of seven Tonys including “Best Musical” is a triumphant story with beloved music and treasured characters.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Loom Weaving
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Loom Weaving
Class date: SATURDAY
November 8, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
With various yarns and fabrics, create your own wall art using a loom! This workshop is open to all ages but please accompany younger children. This workshop is a good opportunity to make a gift for someone special for the holidays!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Watercolor Studio
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Watercolor Studio
Class dates: THURSDAYS
November 6 - 13, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Explore and develop your painting expertise during this 2 week watercolor class! The class emphasizes critique, compositional elements, and developing unity in a painting. Students should be prepared with supplies weekly.
Take the Stage
TAKE THE STAGE
Auditions Workshop
Make an impression at YOUR next audition. ACT director Melonie Carideo gives you lots of tips and tricks for standing out at auditions.
Mystery Maven Costume Contest
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Join us for the Mystery Maven Costume Contest! To enter, simply show up dressed as any mystery character or author, AKA “mystery maven.” Prizes will be awarded for most theatrical costume, best pair or group costume, and most unique interpretation of the theme. Tickets for this performance include catered hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Holiday Tree Ceramics
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Holiday Tree Ceramics
Class date: SATURDAY
November 1, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Create a clay holiday tree ready for lights! This class introduces students to clay handbuilding techniques with step-by-step guidance to create a clay tree decoration. No prior experience required!
Table Read: The Crucible
The Crucible
According to the playwright, Arthur Miller, The Crucible depicts “the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history.” Based on historical people and real events, Miller’s drama is a searing portrait of a community engulfed by hysteria.
The Mousetrap
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Agatha Christie’s whodunit set in a snow-bound guest house is the longest-running play of all time and is riddled with mystery.
RECEPTION for A Retrospective
RECEPTION for A Retrospective
Exhibit by Doug McCoy
A Retrospective features a sampling of recent work by artist Doug McCoy. Expect to see a mix of his rich imagination and unique perspective. From Doug’s colorful pop referential figuring to his inextricable detail work with pen, watercolor and acrylic, A Retrospective walks you through the process of this evolving artist.
RECEPTION Open Exhibit
RECEPTION Open Exhibit
An annual competition and exhibit of for artists in McMinn and surrounding counties.
Pumpkin Painting
PUMPKIN PAINTING
Come paint Pumpkins with us during Pumpkintown in our Visual Arts Wing!* We provide the pumpkins and paint—you provide the inspiration!
*While supplies last
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Intuitive Painting
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Intuitive Painting
Class dates: TUESDAYS
October 14 - 28, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Enjoy a creative and soulful art practice enhanced by centering relaxation methods and the use of multiple art-making media. Explore your inner landscape and creativity in a serene and relaxed setting.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Pottery Wheel
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Pottery Wheel
Class dates: WEDNESDAYS
October 8 - November 19, 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!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: ARTSPLORATIONS Theatre Workshops
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Fall Break Artsplorations
Join us for a la carte theatre workshops during Fall Break (Oct 6-10) taught by local theatre directors and long time performers of ACT. You can sign up for single classes, or sign up for all of them!