Story Treasures:
gems of the present and past
with storytellers
Connie Regan-Blake
and Laura Hope-Gill
January 10 • 7:30pm
Tickets $18 in adance
$22 at the door
This evening of tales celebrates the wonder that comes from spinning our experiences into stories and from listening to the old stories that have guided us through time, attuning us to what it means to be human living in a wondrous world. Wonder is the true treasure that keeps us alert and curious, energetic and attentive even through the toughest times. Cultures have long turned to storytelling in the midst of winter for warmth and community. Also, stories remind us that the wonders of our hearts and imaginations are immune to the ice and chill, and burns forever alight when we listen to one another. This is why stories are our treasure and why in Gaelic culture it is said, that a story well-told is more precious than gold.
BMCA Instructors Concert
Saturday, January 24 • 7:30pm
Tickets $20
The BMCA instructors are back for another performance! The Black Mountain Center for the Arts rings in the new year with our annual Instructors Concert on Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 pm. BMCA is blessed to work with many wonderful professional musicians through our Junior Appalachian Musicians program and private lessons.
We love to highlight their great talent with a yearly concert. You’ll experience a variety of music from several different genres as instructors perform individual and collaborative pieces. Appearing in this year’s concert will be Clarke Williams, Maddy Mullaney, Travis Stuart, Nathan Vargos and Cary Fridley from our Junior Appalachian Musicians program, as well as private lesson instructors Alison Adams (voice), Joel Ragan (piano), and Evan Martin (guitar). Join us in celebrating the wonderful musicianship that lives here at BMCA. Grab some friends and get your tickets now!
AN Artful Journey
Exploring the Best Art Exhibitions of 2026
led by Julianna Caro
Fridays, 10:30am-12pm
Tuition: $25 per lecture
(refreshments included)
Join us for an artful journey to the world’s most exciting art centers: Boston, Denver, London, New York and Charlotte to virtually tour this year’s best museum exhibitions. Each artful journey will begin with a delightful morning drink and snack followed by an inspiring lecture and discussion with art historian and curator Julianna Caro. Together we will enjoy time to visit, connect and learn about current shows featuring artists such as Allan Crite, Camille Passaro, Raphael, Carvaggio, Turner and Constable.
January 30th: Allan Rohan Crite: Urban Glory at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
March 27th: The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism at the Denver Art Museum
April 24th: Raphael: Sublime Poetry and Caravaggio: Revolution
May 22nd: Turner and Constable at Tate Britain, London
Julianna Caro is an art historian, curator, museum educator, and a passionate advocate for wellness and transformative life experiences. Formally an art history professor and Chair of the Art Department at Warren Wilson College, she is the Head of Learning and Engagement at the Asheville Art Museum. Caro has curated exhibitions at the Black Mountain College Museum, the Center for Craft, and the North Carolina Museum of Art. Her popular Friday morning lecture series, An Artful Journey, pairs engaging art history lectures with gourmet refreshments and time to socialize. With her company, The Artisan Tour by Julianna, she leads week-long excursions to Italy and local art and food tours. For more about Julianna, visit www.theartisantour.com.
Becoming Punxsutawney Phil
A "Groundhog Day" Screening and Discussion
led by Julie Benesh
Sunday, February 1st • 1:30-5pm
$25 per attendee
What can a decades-old rom-com/fantasy film about a rodent teach us about human moral development? Come for the laughs, stay for a discussion of this timeless mid-winter feast for the mind and heart, which legendary film theorist Stanley Cavell said would still be "cherished" 100 years after its inception. Together, we will view Groundhog Day, consider its deeper meaning, and dwell cozily in the details that add up to its transformative impact on its characters and audience alike.
Creative Writing Essentials
led by Shelby Wardlaw
Mondays, February 2, 9, 16, & 23
5-6:30pm
Tuition: $150
Do you have a story to tell? Do you scribble ideas down on napkins and notecards? Have you always felt the urge to write, but are unsure how to get started? In this fun and dynamic class, students will learn the essentials of masterful storytelling. Each class will include a craft talk, a mentor text, free writing prompts and time for sharing written work.
By the end of four weeks, you will know:
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How to mine your memories for inspiration
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How to get past mental blocks
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How to build complex, believable characters
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How to tie characters to setting
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How to enhance your plot through an understanding of place
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How to craft catchy dialogue that draws the reader in
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Plus you’ll leave with four weeks’ worth of free writes, prompts, and story ideas to get your
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writing projects going.
Excellent for beginners, intermediate students, or anyone who just needs a focused setting to kick start their creative work.
Shelby Wardlaw is a writer, teacher, and translator. She holds an M.F.A. in Fiction from
Columbia University and currently teaches in the Writing Program at Rutgers University. Her fiction, non-fiction and Russian poetry translations have appeared in Drafthorse, Interim, Northwest Review, Hunger Mountain, iō Literary Journal, Philadelphia Stories, hex literary, Vassar Review, and the Neon Door Literary Exhibit. In the spring of 2020, she won Honorable mention in the Pigeon Pages Fiction Contest. She was a Finalist for the 2021 Salamander Fiction Prize and the 2021 McGlinn Prize for Fiction and was selected as one of the top five finalists in The Writer magazine’s 2020 Fall Short Story Contest. In 2022, her story “Papaya Erectus” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Praised by The Writer editorial staff as a “stunningly talented writer,” Shelby is now working on her first novel.
Ronn McFarlane & Carolyn Surrick
in Concert
Lute and Viola da Gamba duo
February 6 • 7:30pm
Tickets $20
This special concert features Ronn McFarlane on lute and Carolyn Surrick on viola da gamba. Both of these distinguished artists have been champions of their respective instruments for decades, immersing themselves in various forms of folk and chamber music. Renaissance and Baroque music is in their repertoire, but they also play traditional Celtic and Swedish folk tunes, 19th and 20th century compositions, and original compositions from each of them. Ronn and Carolyn take these ancient instruments and place them in a timeless context that captivates and entertains their audiences. Individually, they have been awarded, acclaimed, celebrated, and now finally, they have become musical partners in an extraordinary journey. Their musicianship is impeccable, the ease with which they play together is stunning, and their music-making is a joy to behold.
Valentine's Heart Mosaic Stepping Stones
led by Michelle Bettencourt
Saturday, February 7th • 1:00-4:00pm
Sunday, February 8th • 1:00-3:00pm
Tuition $80 (supplies included)
Ages 12 and up
Ready for some color in your yard? This class will introduce you to the ancient art form of mosaics through the creation of your own, unique heart-shaped mosaic stepping stone. In the first session, you will learn the basics of mosaic design, select and cut/break tessere (ceramic tiles, plates and other materials) and adhere them to your concrete stepping stone. In the second session, you will learn how to grout your piece and will have a number of colors of grout to choose from. After just two sessions you will leave with a beautiful mosaic heart-shaped stepping stone for outdoor use and the knowledge to make mosaics on a number of substrates. See Michelle’s general guidelines and links for mosaics here.
Valentine's Burlesque Class
led by Claire K. Landis
Friday, February 13th • 7:30-9pm
Tuition $25
Ages 16 and up
Treat yourself to an unforgettable evening of sparkle, sass, and sophistication this Valentine's season! Join Claire for a sultry Friday night experience where classic burlesque meets modern empowerment.
Whether you're looking to surprise someone special or simply celebrate yourself, this 90-minute workshop will have you feeling confident, sensual, and absolutely radiant. Learn timeless burlesque choreography designed to make you feel incredible in your own skin—no dance experience necessary, just bring your bold energy and willingness to play.
Sip on indulgent bubbly as you master alluring moves, playful gestures, and that unmistakable burlesque confidence. Claire will guide you through a complete routine that's equal parts glamorous and fun, creating the perfect blend of instruction and celebration.
Galentine's Polymer Clay Earrings Workshop
led by Cristy Leonard
Saturday, February 14th • 10am-12:30pm
Tuition $55 (supplies included)
Ages 16 and up
Celebrate friendship and creativity this Galentine's Day at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts! Join us for a fun, hands-on workshop where you'll create your own pair of unique polymer clay earrings to wear or gift to your favorite gals.
Zoe & Cloyd
Annual Valentine's Concert
Saturday, February 14 • 7:30pm
Tickets $25
Zoe & Cloyd—the creative partnership of fiddler/vocalist Natalya Zoe Weinstein and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist John Cloyd Miller—prove that opposites truly do attract. Hailing from two distinct musical worlds, they merge their unique backgrounds into a powerful collaboration that has garnered both critical acclaim and widespread appeal.
Join us for this annual Valentine's tradition! Tickets for this show tend to sell quickly, so don't wait to snag your seats!
Valentine's Ballroom Workshops
led by Justin Chaple
Mondays, February 16th - March 9th
Ballroom 1: 6:30-7:30pm
Ballroom 2: 7:30-8:30pm
Tuition $125 per couple
Ages 16 and up
Ballroom 1 is the perfect way to extend the romance and give your special someone an experience you'll both treasure. Music, dancing, and fun are guaranteed as you and your partner explore the exciting world of Latin and Ballroom dancing. From the smooth elegance of foxtrot and rumba to the infectious rhythms of salsa, merengue, and swing, you'll discover styles that will have you moving with confidence and joy. This 4-week course is designed for beginners—no experience necessary! You'll learn the basics of social dancing and finally be prepared for your next wedding, party, or special event. No more chair dancing for you!
Ballroom 2 is how you keep the sparks flying. Expand your knowledge with more dances, more steps, and more fun as you and your partner deepen your connection on the dance floor.
Because the best relationships keep growing. In this intermediate class, you'll refine the essential elements that make great dancers: style, tempo, hip motion, footwork, and frame. These are the components that will make you confident and skilled on any dance floor, at any venue—turning every wedding, date night, or special occasion into your moment to shine together.
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The Complete works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield
February 20 - March 1
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets $20
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is a fast, furious, and laugh-out-loud sprint through the Bard’s best (and weirdest) moments. Expect tragic deaths, wild romances and more ridiculous wigs than a royal court as three performers attempt to tackle every play and sonnet in one whirlwind performance. This play is brought to you by Mike Yow and Fire in the Head Productions.
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
By Terrance McNally
May 8-17
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets $20
The setting is a walk-up apartment on Manhattan's West Side where, as the curtain rises, Frankie (a waitress) and Johnny (a short-order cook who works in the same restaurant) are discovered in bed. It is their first encounter, after having met several weeks ago on the job, and Frankie is hopeful that Johnny will now put on his clothes and depart, so she can
return to her usual routine of watching TV and eating ice cream. But Johnny, a compulsive talker (and romantic), has other ideas. He is convinced that he loves Frankie, a notion that she, at first, considers to be ridiculous. She has had more disappointments than delights in life, and he is the veteran of one broken marriage already. And neither of them is in the bloom of youth. Yet out of their sometimes touching, sometimes hilarious interplay the promise of a relationship beyond a "one-night stand" does begin to emerge and, as the lights dim, the two are back in bed again, but this time side-by-side, holding hands before the glowing television screen.
Frankie and Johnny at the Clair de Lune is produced by Multiverse Theatre Collective.
This production includes adult themes and language.