Gaston Arts Council

10/16/2025

🎉 Congratulations, David Childers! 🎉

We are bursting with pride today as Gaston County native David Childers is inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame!

David brings raw honesty, storytelling depth, and a uniquely Southern voice to every song he writes and sings. Blending folk, rockabilly, and country, he’s released more than a dozen albums; Run Skeleton Run, Melancholy Angel, Serpents of Reformation, Interstate Lullaby, and more. A former lawyer turned full-time artist, David draws from literature, spirituality, and everyday life to create songs full of soul and substance. He’s toured across the U.S. and Europe, shared stages with members of The Avett Brothers, and even performed on MerleFest’s main stage.

But music isn’t his only gift. David is also a painter, channeling the same gritty, grounded perspective onto canvas that you hear in his lyrics. His artistry connects us - to place, memory, emotion - and reminds us what it means to tell our stories.

David, we salute you. Your journey inspires artists across Gaston County and beyond. Here’s to your legacy, your music, and all the chapters still to come.

📅 The induction ceremony takes place tonight at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center.

https://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/announcing-the-2025-hall-of-fame-inductees-2/

10/16/2025

You don’t have to call yourself an artist to enjoy the arts!

Whether you’re sketching in a notebook, singing along to the radio, painting with friends, or crafting with your kids - you’re part of the creative fabric that makes Gaston County shine. 🎨

Keep creating, keep exploring, and keep supporting the spaces that make creativity possible!

09/29/2025

✨ Is this your seat? ✨

The Gaston Arts Council is looking for a few new Board Members to help us champion the arts across Gaston County. We’re especially seeking folks from McAdenville, Lowell, Dallas, Cherryville, Bessemer City, Kings Mountain, and High Shoals, as well as those with accounting or legal experience.

You don’t have to be an artist - just someone who loves the arts and wants to see them thrive in our community. 💙

Interested? Reach out to us at gac (at) gastonarts [dot] org and let’s talk!

09/25/2025

📊 The 24/25 Arts Impact Report is here! 🎨✨

We’re proud to share how the arts are shaping Gaston County. This year’s report highlights:

🌟 Our progress and growth over the past year
🤝 The incredible organizations and artists we’ve partnered with
🎭 The 24/25 Grassroots Grant recipients and the inspiring projects and programs they’re bringing to life

The arts don’t just entertain - they educate, connect, and transform communities. 💙

Take a look at the full report and celebrate the impact your support makes possible. Together, we’re building a more creative and connected Gaston County.

📖 Read the full report at 👉 https://gastonarts.org/arts-impact-report/.

09/24/2025

Murals don’t just brighten walls - they bring communities to life. 🎨

They tell our stories, spark conversations, and transform ordinary spaces into places of connection and pride.

Behind every mural is an artist who poured their heart, vision, and countless hours into creating something lasting for all of us. Artists deserve our respect, recognition, and support!

👉 Respect the arts. Respect the artist. Respect the work.

Here’s how you can help:
✨ Share and celebrate public art in your community.
✨ Credit artists when you post their work.
✨ Advocate for arts funding and public art projects.
✨ Show up - attend local art events and invite a friend.
✨ Support artists directly through commissions, purchases, or donations.

When we value the arts, we strengthen the fabric of our community. 💙

09/22/2025

Calling all Gaston County creatives! 📣 ⁠
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Our first Amplify Meetup is happening this Saturday, September 27, from 9:00–10:30 AM at the Gaston County Museum (Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station).⁠
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This month’s theme is connecting your creative work to community. Together, we’ll explore how our art shapes place and identity through a hands-on mini-zine activity, a spark story from featured artist Pamela Underwood, and a group discussion on the impact of creative practice. ✨⁠
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Come enjoy autumn snacks & cider, connect with fellow artists, and leave inspired by the voices around you. 🎨⁠
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📅 Saturday, 9/27⁠
🕘 9:00–10:30 AM⁠
📍 Gaston County Museum – Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station⁠
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This event is free, but space is limited - let us know you’re coming by registering at the link below!
https://AmplifyMeetup1.eventbrite.com

09/16/2025

Did you know... it’s NC Arts in Education Week?! 🎨📚

Studies show that exposure to the arts in schools doesn’t just spark creativity - it builds empathy, helping students better understand one another and the world around them. 💙

Here in North Carolina, this week we are celebrating the powerful role the arts play in education - fueling imagination, boosting confidence, and connecting students across differences.

Let’s keep advocating for the arts in our schools so every child has the chance to grow, learn, and thrive through creativity. 🌟

09/15/2025

Today, we are shining a spotlight on our friends at Gaston School of the Arts!

For decades, GSOA has helped students of all ages explore their artistic talents - offering classes in visual arts, music, and drama that ignite imagination and inspire lifelong learning. Their dedication to arts education enriches lives and strengthens the cultural fabric of our region.

We’re incredibly thankful to have the Gaston School of the Arts as both a member and a champion of the creative community in Gaston County.

As we continue our work here at the Gaston Arts Council, we’re grateful for their partnership, their belief in the power of the arts, and their role in helping us advocate for a thriving creative future in Gaston County.

Follow them and learn more about their incredible work on their website: 👉 gastonschoolofthearts.org.

Then, hear more about their story on our YouTube channel at

Lesson times are scheduled by the instructor. Class, production rehearsal, workshop and other event times are as scheduled according to the calendar.

09/10/2025

Introducing Amplify Meetups!

When artists come together, our voices grow louder, our ideas stretch further, and our impact deepens. That’s the heart of Amplify Meetups - a space to connect, create, and reflect on how our art shapes the world around us. 🎨💬

Join us for our very first session!
📅 Saturday, September 27, 2025
📍 Gaston County Museum – Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station
🫶 Theme: Connecting your creative work to community

Here’s what’s in store:
• 9:00–9:15 | Welcome with autumn snacks & cider
• 9:15–9:45 | Zine-making activity exploring place, identity & impact
• 9:45–10:15 | Spark Story & Group discussion: “What does your work give back to the world?”
• 10:15–10:30 | Share-outs & closing

🌟 Featured Artist: Pamela Underwood
Pamela, an artist and youth arts educator, will share how her community-driven projects have built lasting partnerships and inspired the next generation to create with purpose.

Let’s come together to connect, create, and amplify our voices - because when we create in community, the possibilities are endless!

Amplify Meetups are free to attend. Register now at the link below!

Amplify Meetups bring artists and creatives together to spark collaborations that strengthen our arts community and amplify our voices!

09/09/2025

As the air turns crisp (and then warm, and then crisp again... curse you fake fall!) and the leaves begin to change, we feel the excitement of new beginnings, full of possibility and fresh energy.

We’re excited to look ahead to our 2025–2026 season - a year filled with new opportunities to experience, support, and celebrate the arts across Gaston County! 🍂🎭✨

We’ve been a little quiet this summer, but behind the scenes we’ve been hard at work planning for the future. We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we closed out our last fiscal year strong - raising the funds needed to sustain and grow the Gaston Arts Council. We truly couldn’t have done it without YOU. 💙🙌

Stay tuned for announcements on programs coming soon, and be sure to join our mailing list at http://bit.ly/3JS3vs0 or keep following us here so you don’t miss a thing.

The best is yet to come, and we’re so grateful to have you with us on this journey!

07/10/2025

🎨 Calling all Gaston County nonprofits and arts organizations!

The 2025–2026 Grassroots Grant Cycle is here, and we’re hosting two FREE workshops to help you navigate the process and set your project up for success. Whether you're applying for the first time or need a refresher, we've got you covered!

📅 Virtual Workshop: July 16 | 1:00–2:30 PM�
📍 In-Person Workshop: July 24 | 6:30–8:00 PM

Led by the Gaston Arts Council in partnership with the NC Arts Council, these sessions will cover eligibility, funding priorities, and tips for crafting a strong proposal. Don't miss this chance to bring your arts ideas to life with the support they deserve!

🔗 Register now at the links in our bio!
Virtual: https://2526GrassrootsVirtual.eventbrite.com
In-Person https://2526GrassrootsInPerson.eventbrite.com