History

While Western's department of art + design and the former Belk Gallery have maintained a strong academic and contemporary art exhibition program over the years, the new Fine Art Museum will continue the tradition of the Belk Gallery while strengthening its role as a cultural catalyst to celebrate and preserve the artistic legacy of the western North Carolina region with a developing focus to collect, interpret and showcase innovation in contemporary art.

The Fine & Performing Arts Center houses the department of art and design which includes state of the art academic classrooms and studios for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students in visual arts to accommodate painting and drawing, ceramics, photography, sculpture, printmaking and book arts, graphic design, interior design, new media, art history, art teacher education, and museum studies.

A new Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree program in studio arts began in summer 2004 with noted guest artists and faculty members teaching several comprehensive studio courses to advanced level graduate students while offering campus and community members the opportunity to attend lectures and forums on a variety of special art topics and contemporary art issues.

RELATED LINKS

• American Association of Museums
• Asheville Art Museum
• Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center
• Cherokee Studies Program at Western Carolina University
• College of Arts and Sciences at Western Carolina University
• Jackson County Arts Council (N.C.)
• Lectures, Concerts, and Exhibitions at Western Carolina University
• LIFT Contemporary
• Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University
• Museum of the Cherokee Indian
• North Carolina Arts Council
• North Carolina Museums Council
• The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design

For more information, contact Martin DeWitt, founding director.