Rich Offerings at the BMCA Provide Thousands with New Experiences
by Jessica Klarp

On the edge of the downtown historic district a river flows. It is a river of people flowing through the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Black Mountain citizens and visitors have always gravitated toward this important building: it used to house the City Hall, the Library and the Jail. During World War II, folks lined up to use the phone booth in the lobby.  In the 1980’s, the Town decided to move to a new building.   225 West State Street sat empty and abandoned, ready to be torn down.  In 1993 a small group of local visionaries organized, finding a way to save the Old City Hall from destruction, with the hope of raising enough money to create a “center” for the arts in Black Mountain. Their efforts, coupled with the generosity of the community, resulted in the renovation of the building into the current 6,000 square foot three-story facility. It has become not only an historic landmark, but also exactly what they had hoped for:  a community Center for the Arts. Now, in addition to the art gallery where the library once stood, and the painting studio in place of the jail, there is a full-service pottery studio in the old City Garage, and an array of programs that draw the river of diverse people toward the Center for the Arts and back out on to State Street, enriched by what they experienced.

One such program, the Monday night Ballroom Dance class, finds folks taking this short four week session where they hope to turn awkward, stilted movements into a graceful, confident dance. The process produces much laughter and neighborly exchanges as partners switch and toes get stepped on.
“We came so that we could dance together well at my son’s wedding,” said Wendy Outland, from Swannanoa. “We had some friends taking the class and it seemed the perfect opportunity. I have always wanted to learn to waltz, and the class wasn't too time-consuming. Plus, the Arts Center is only a few miles from home, so we decided to go for it. It’s so much fun!” Her husband Jeff seemed slightly less enthusiastic, but game nonetheless!  

Statistics show that last year over 20,000 people like Wendy and Jeff passed through the Arts Center doors or participated in outreach events. This river of interest was made up of tourists and locals, old and young, parents and singles. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts offers more than 40 regular classes and workshops annually that focus on drama, movement, literary arts, music instruction for strings, piano and voice, and for the visual arts in a wide variety of media. It offers monthly acoustic concerts in a broad selection of genres, monthly fine arts gallery exhibitions featuring local and national artists, and several theater and film events. The Center provides outreach to local schools, to home-schoolers, to the Highland Farms Retirement Community, and to the Recreation and Parks Department.

            “We are proud of the age diversity that we serve – literally from cradle through retirement,” says Executive Director Gale Jackson. “One spring, I watched as our pre-school music teacher took the mothers and fathers, holding their toddlers, into the gallery. She closed the doors, turned off the gallery lights and turned on a flashlight and moved the beam of light around the dark space.  The babies were absolutely silent and absorbed in following the circle of light over the works of art.  The art on exhibit?  Amazing works by a senior citizen – her first art exhibit ever.  At that moment I felt an acute awareness of the spectrum of people we serve here at the Center for the Arts every day. I was witnessing the great intersection that the arts create for everyone.”

Another great example of the continuum the BMCA provides is the Junior Appalachian Musicians program. “The JAM sessions help young children understand the tradition that is part of their heritage here in the mountains,” said Program Coordinator Rita Vermillion, of the program that brings traditional musicians from the area together with children interested in learning to play fiddle, guitar and banjo. “It is so important because we are going to lose this beautiful part of what makes us special if we don’t nurture it. These kids may be exposed to some traditional music, but when they come to JAM they get to experience it by playing it, by learning first hand, and by sharing it as a group and with the public – they performed at both L.E.A.F. and Highland Farms last year.”

Vermillion pointed out that these same children can come to the BMCA UpBeat! Musical Heritage Concert series and be exposed to local adults who have perfected their craft and who have embraced music as a profession.

In addition to the performers, the Center for the Arts also compensates local teaching artists who receive income provided by student fees to supplement their professional artistic careers. Ticket sales and class fees benefit the performers and the teachers, but only a small percentage of those earnings return to the Arts Center, barely enough to pay for the power bill. This is why it is so important that those who participate in the various Arts Center programs take the extra step of supporting the center financially. It might mean dropping an extra $20 in the donation box. It might mean making the check a little bigger than the class fee. It might mean volunteering, becoming a board member, or making the Center for the Arts a part of your legacy. “We appreciate gifts of any size,” stated Jackson. “It is important for people to support the arts center beyond their participation. We invite everyone to ‘Be a Part of the Arts – Right Here in Black Mountain!’”