Black Mountain Center for the Arts Celebrates 10/15

In October 2000 the Black Mountain Center for the Arts opened its doors in the renovated original City Hall at 225 W. State Street as a stand-alone non-profit arts organization whose mission is to “bring arts to the people and people to the arts.” The organization began in 1995, working out of temporary quarters until the stately brick building, schedule to be razed, could be funded and renovated. In October 2010, BMCA will celebrate “10/15,” a time to remember the past accomplishments of the ten years in the building and the fifteen years of existence, and to look forward to the next decades as a beacon for the arts in the Swannanoa Valley and eastern Buncombe County. In addition, the Center celebrates the tenth year under the leadership of Executive Director, Gale Jackson.

Activities scheduled during the month-long celebration include a Founders and Benefactors party, a screening of the film “Fully Awake Black Mountain College,” an NC premiere stage production of “Yours, Isabel,” starring Black Mountain native Matt Lutz, (now a television, film, and theater actor) and his wife, Christy Hall, (who is also the playwright), a solo show by mixed media artist Heather Allen Swarttouw followed by the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League juried show. Check the website for dates and times: BlackMountainArts.org or call 828/669-0930.

When the Black Mountain Center for the Arts was in the beginning stages in the mid ‘90s a group of distinguished local citizens guided the Capital Campaign to raise one million dollars for renovations. These included co-chairs Billy Edd Wheeler, Gay Currie Fox, the late Ruth Bell Graham, the late Betty Tyson, and Board Chair Wendy Craig. Others instrumental in seeing the completion of the task included Gary Semlak, the late Ben Holden, the late Will Kennedy, and the late Per Reich. Current Board Chair Judith Mayer has led the way for the 10/15 celebrations, along with other members, Carol Howard, Jim Lenhart, Katherine Neville, Joyce Black-Woerz, Julia Burr, Emily Ferguson, Sandra Hagen, Diane Hutchins, Geri Ingram, Fran Jordan, Jane Reeves, Lee Taylor, George Thompson, Black Mountain Mayor Carl Bartlett and Montreat Councilwoman Mary Standaert.

Over the course of its life the Center has benefited from grants from The Janirve Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and its affiliate, the Black Mountain Endowment Fund, the Lipscomb Family Foundation, the Japan Foundation, the Harry F. Chaddick & Elaine Chaddick Foundation, the Judith E. & Joseph C. Cook, Jr. Foundation, the Eli Lilly & Co. Foundation, the ExxonMobil Matching Gifts Foundation, the Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation, Inc, the East Tennessee Foundation, the Burning Bush Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and Zimmer Carolinas, as well as other corporate and individual donations. The Center is grateful for the contributions of faithful local citizens who have enabled it to remain open, active and viable for a decade of providing a wide array of arts activities, instruction in visual arts, movement and music, and events in our community, such as Pumpkinfest, “Way Back When,” Art in Bloom, Brown Bags & Books Series and the Annual Auction for the Arts, and more.

Visit www.blackmountainarts.org to find a celebration event to attend during October’s bright blue weather.