Arts Along 460 – Arts Associations

Characteristic of the region’s robust support for the arts is its active community of arts associations and councils. Artistic pursuits and outlets in Lynchburg, Bedford and Roanoke are sponsored and organized by academies, clubs and other supportive bodies. As a result, there are myriad opportunities for art education, scholarships, festivals and performances throughout the year, punctuated by seasonal and thematic events.

The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge

Established in 1976 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge has provided proactive leadership to maintain and strengthen the cultural activities of southwest Virginia for more than three decades. Today, the Council provides programs and services to 100 member organizations and more than 260 individual artists of all artistic disciplines. Programs and services include a regional cultural calendar, arts education programs, arts management workshops for member organizations and individual artists, directories and cultural tourism initiatives.

Wharton Memorial Foundation/Bedford Academy of the Arts/The Bower Center

The Wharton Memorial Foundation, operating as the Bower Center for the Arts, promotes the cultural arts in the Bedford area, providing an atmosphere of learning and personal growth through entertainment and education in the visual and performing arts. The Bower Center for the Arts, a non-profit art center, is named for the mother and father of Bedford native, Dr. John Bower, whose generous donation allowed for the purchase of its building in 2005. The building itself has a rich and varied history, with the original structure having been built in 1880. It was originally the home to the Bedford Christian Church, and the performance hall is housed in the old sanctuary. The natural acoustics create a wonderful setting for the performing arts. Exhibit space has been set up on all three levels, with the ground floor housing the primary gallery exhibit space as well as the Gallery Shoppe, class areas and studio spaces.

Academy of Fine Arts

The Academy of Fine Arts, based in Lynchburg, is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and presenting the visual and performing arts, while creating opportunities for arts education. Its functions center on the Academy of Fine Arts complex, anchored by the historic Academy of Music Theatre, in downtown Lynchburg. The 1905 Academy of Music Theatre is one of Central Virginia's most notable historic treasures of the last century. Now the only remaining of six original Academy of Music Theatres in the Commonwealth, this edifice boasted perfect sightlines, extraordinary acoustics, and was Lynchburg's first fully electrified building. The theatre hosted landmark performances by artists who were vital to the evolution of the performing arts in America, such as George M. Cohan, Will Rogers and many others.  With a plan to create a downtown fine arts center by 2010, the Academy of Fine Arts designed a complex that will include the restoration of the historic theatre and the renovation of two other historic buildings into an education center, art galleries, offices, lobbies, and open spaces. A flexible studio space for theatre productions, social events, and business meetings will complete the complex. Upon completion, the Academy of Fine Arts will be key component to the successful revitalization of Lynchburg's historic downtown.

Lynchburg Art Club

The Lynchburg Art Club hosts a regular gallery of local art and sponsors frequent exhibits featuring local and regional talent. The club also offers ongoing education in the arts, including classes for beginners as well as the experienced artist.

The Lynchburg Arts Council