UPCOMING EVENTS
Ambispection: the Art of Donald Keefe
Apr. 3
Exhibitions
The Arts Center
Exhibitions
The Arts Center

Ambispection: The Art of Donald Keefe

This exhibit explores the double-minded quality of one who is reserving judgement and commitment for when, if ever, enough knowledge is gained to silence all doubt.

Exhibitions
The Arts Center
The Hardin Valley Project
Apr. 10
Exhibitions
The Arts Center
Exhibitions
The Arts Center

The Hardin Valley Project

An Exhibit by Emily Greenquist

Photographs show the development of Hardin Valley from 2020 - 2023, exploring the emotional balancing act between the sadness of change and the need for development. We hope you’ll take an art break and view an exhibit of art by Emily Greenquist in our Willson Exhibit Room.

Exhibitions
The Arts Center
EXPOSURE
Apr. 10
Exhibitions
The Arts Center
Exhibitions
The Arts Center

EXPOSURE features work by professional and amateur photographers in our area. See this exhibit in our Hallway Gallery.

Exhibitions
The Arts Center
Songwriters in the Round Hosted by Kyshona
Apr. 19
Black Box ON TOUR
The Arts Center
Black Box ON TOUR
The Arts Center

BUY TICKETS

Kyshona Armstrong is a music therapist turned singer-songwriter who uses her music to provide a voice to those who are silenced or unheard. This one night only concert is curated just for us by Kyshona to celebrate contemporary voices such as Crys Matthews, the up-and-coming singersongwriter hailed as the new Woody Guthrie, and Rissi Palmer, trailblazing performer of “Southern Soul.” This Black Box ON TOUR performance is in the Sue E. Trotter Theatre Black Box at The Arts Center.

Black Box ON TOUR
The Arts Center
80s Prom
May 10
House Blend Concert Series
The Arts Center
House Blend Concert Series
The Arts Center

BUY TICKETS

Big hair and big ballads. Dress up and get down or come to hear the sounds of the 1980s – this evening has it all.

House Blend Concert Series
The Arts Center
Auditions: Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical
May 20
Athens Community Theatre, AUDITIONS
The Arts Center
Athens Community Theatre, AUDITIONS
The Arts Center

AUDITIONS

Jeff Kinney’s popular “Wimpy Kid” takes center stage as his cartoon diary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt musical. Grab a hall pass and don’t be late for an adventure familiar to anyone who actually survived middle school.

Athens Community Theatre, AUDITIONS
The Arts Center
Kids Arts Camp 2024
Jun. 3
Camps
The Arts Center
Camps
The Arts Center

REGISTER BY MAY 20

Week one: June 3 – 7
Week two: June 10 – 14

AACA’s 27th annual arts camp for grades K-6 is for students who will have completed the grade in the 2023-24 school year. There are daily classes in art, music, drama, and dance. The beloved summer camp led by Kay Frank and Lisa Sharp is a great introduction to the arts in a week full of fun for newbies and practiced performers alike.

Camps
The Arts Center
Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical
Aug. 1
Athens Community Theatre, ACT
The Arts Center
Athens Community Theatre, ACT
The Arts Center

TICKETS ON SALE JUNE 21

Jeff Kinney’s popular “Wimpy Kid” takes center stage as his cartoon diary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt musical. Grab a hall pass and don’t be late for an adventure familiar to anyone who actually survived middle school.

Athens Community Theatre, ACT
The Arts Center

Upcoming Events

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Athens Area Council for the Arts began in 1979 as an idea in a living room…

And quickly grew to an office in a closet on Tennessee Wesleyan College campus. As our organization expanded, we moved to an office in the historic Robert E. Lee Hotel in Downtown Athens and developed a strong arts in education program, children’s programming, the long-running “Arts in the Park,” and presented a touring performing arts series. In 2005, Athens Area Council for the Arts moved into “The Arts Center,” in the location of the former Harrod’s grocery store.

Image of a vintage grocery bag. The bag has the image of a sign that reads "Harrod's Thrift Market & Bakery" Below the sign is an arrow that reads, "Customer Parking." The sign is rooted in a brick planter with green foliage.

Our mission is to enrich the quality of life and make a difference for our community by providing opportunities for the expression and appreciation of the arts.

Once we had a home in The Arts Center, AACA grew from an organization of big ideas and vision to a premiere visual, educational, and performing arts organization in our region.

By 2019, AACA was quickly outgrowing The Arts Center, so we purchased the three adjacent buildings.

The expanded Arts Center will celebrate its grand opening in Septermber 2024 thanks to the generous support of our Capital Campaign donors.

An architect's rendering of the remodeled facade of The Arts Center. The three purchased buildings have been transformed with newly painted brick (red, light gray, and dark gray), and you can just make out a mural on the side of the end building.