The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts will open a new exhibition by Photography Resident Dean Kessmann on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in the Joel Gallery, with a free public artist talk at 3:00 p.m. Kessmann is a Professor of Photography at The George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design who spent his spring 2026 sabbatical in residence at The Bascom, his first formal artist residency in nearly two decades.

Leslie Jeffery’s vibrant abstract paintings – shaped by a lifetime of color, movement, and mountain inspiration – invite viewers into a world where form dissolves and emotion leads the way.

The Art League opens its 2026 season on April 27 at The Bascom terrace, with guest speaker Billy Love offering a look at The Bascom’s creative year ahead.

After 15 years at The Bascom, ceramics director Frank Vickery has shaped a thriving, welcoming studio where artists of all ages discover the joy of clay and community.

The Highlands‑Cashiers Chamber Music Festival’s spring residency brings the Terra String Quartet into schools, senior centers, and community spaces to share world‑class chamber music up close. The program continues the festival’s long tradition of fostering connection through artistry.

Blue Ridge JAM gives local students a musical pathway rooted in Appalachian heritage, offering instrument instruction, cultural enrichment, and community connection for young musicians.

Mountain Theatre Company’s New York auditions drew hundreds of performers and set the stage for a summer of original productions brought to life by exceptional talent and the collaborative spirit that defines MTC.

The Highlands PAC brings Shrek the Musical to its Mainstage April 24–26, a community-filled Educational Theatre production featuring more than 50 local performers in a story celebrating humor, heart, and being yourself.

The Bascom’s spring–summer exhibition showcases Photography Resident Dean Kessmann’s quietly transformative images, works that blur the line between representation and abstraction while inviting viewers into a slower, more attentive way of seeing.