Blowing Rock Historical Society Donates $3,000 to Watauga Arts Council’s Hope After Helene Arts Relief Fund

Boone, NC — The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) is proud to announce a generous donation of $3,000 from the Blowing Rock Historical Society to WAC’s Hope After Helene Arts Relief Fund. This donation brings the total raised so far to over $10,000, which will directly benefit artists in Western North Carolina who were affected by Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. Financial support from this fund is being provided to reimburse artists for lost materials, travel expenses for exhibitions, and lost salary opportunities due to canceled or disrupted artistic engagements.

WAC has a long history of collaboration with the Blowing Rock Historical Society, particularly through their Edgewood Cottage Artists in Residence (AiR) Program. The Watauga Arts Council has supported this program over the years, providing funding to ensure its continued success. The AiR program, which operates typically from May through October each year, provides selected artists with the opportunity to work, create, and exhibit in a historic, local art gallery in downtown Blowing Rock. This juried program attracts a diverse group of artists from across the High Country each year, offering them a week-long residency to become acquainted with visitors of the Edgewood Cottage Gallery. To learn more about the Edgewood Cottage and its residency program, please visit their website at https://www.artistsatedgewood.org/

As WAC continues to work closely with the Historical Society, both organizations remain dedicated to fostering the arts in the High Country region, offering opportunities for artists to thrive and share their talents with the community.

For more information about the Hope After Helene Relief Fund or to make a donation, please visit the Watauga Arts Council’s website at https://www.watauga-arts.org/crisisresources.

About Watauga Arts Council (WAC)
The Watauga Arts Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering arts within the High Country. Through various programs, initiatives, and partnerships, the Council works to promote creativity, cultural development, and art accessibility. Want to learn more? Visit our website!