Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Gleaves is bringing his heartfelt contemporary Appalachian music to the Berea Arts Council! This FREE ADMISSION concert offers the opportunity to hear Sam perform songs from his brand-new album, HONEST, as well as favorites both old and new, traditional and original. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and music will begin at 7 pm. Sam’s performance is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

This diverse show consists of East Kentucky artists Carla Gover and Yani Vozos, Mexican-American Dancer and musician, Paulina Vazquez, and Andean Instrument Master, Fernando Moya. The show mixes Appalachian, Andean, and Mexican music, dance, and stories. Audiences will see and hear instruments such as the banjo, Appalachian Dulcimer, guitar, charango, zampoñas and quenas (Andean flutes), various drums, and rhythms made by dancing feet. They'll hear (and maybe sing along with) traditional songs of Mexico, Kentucky, and Ecuador, sung in English and Spanish. They will see and compare flatfoot dancing from Appalachia and several styles of colorful Ballet Folklórico from Mexico. 

FREE admission at the BAC thanks to funding from our partners at the National Endowment of the Arts.

The Slave, Monk Estill is a one-man performance piece performed by native Berean Malcolm Davis, highlighting Monk Estill and his heroic deeds, unique struggle, and profound impact on the state of Kentucky. This performance is Kentucky's Black History come to life, and a powerful educational and artistic performance to bear witness to.

Join us for Second Saturday Art Talks at the Berea Arts Council! Admission is FREE for anyone! Bring something new or old that you have created to the gallery and share about it in a friendly environment. Doors open at 1:30, starts at 2pm.

https://www.facebook.com/share/kNgir5FVEip4ifeg/

On first Thursdays, join us at the BAC for "Songwriters in the Round," an intimate evening featuring 80 minutes of live original music performed by 4 local songwriters/songwriting duos spread across two 40-minute sets, with a brief intermission in between sets.

Featured performers – Jaclyn Bullock, Brett Noland, Jerry Sparks & Leah Abner, and Darren Steele

Admission is free,

The Berea Arts Council invites you to come join us for a day of celebration out at Middletown School Grounds. Featured are live performances, games, a viewing of inside the school, and a FREE meal. 

Keven McQueen, Senior Lecturer in EKU's English Department and author of numerous books has agreed to "read a few spooky stories around Halloween" for our literary open mic October 17th. Come join us for an evening of spooky tales by one of the most prolific writers of the genre.

Keven McQueen was born in Richmond, Kentucky. He has a B.A. in English from Berea College and an M.A. in English from Eastern Kentucky University. He is an instructor in the Department of English and Theater at EKU and the author of several books covering such topics as history, biography, historical true crime, natural disasters, folklore, and ghostlore. He spends his free time perfecting his vocal impersonation of the cartoon character Droopy. 

Join us for a night at the BAC to explore and learn more about David Zurick's newest work, Hippie India: Dreamers and Seekers in the Land of Nirvana. Admission is FREE, and refreshments will be provided to guests.

Join us for BAC's improv comedy night! Our team of local actors are ready to make you laugh with this fun and loose performance at the Berea Arts Council.

Admission is FREE

A native of Danville, Kentucky, Frank X Walker is the first African American writer to be named Kentucky Poet Laureate. Walker has published eleven collections of poetry, including Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers, which was awarded the 2014 NAACP Image Award for Poetry and the Black Caucus American Library Association Honor Award for Poetry. He is also the author of Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, winner of the 2004 Lillian Smith Book Award, and Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride, which he adapted for stage, earning him the Paul Green Foundation Playwrights Fellowship Award.

Join us at the Berea Arts Council on October 5th starting 7pm.

On first Thursdays, join us at the BAC for "Songwriters in the Round," an intimate evening featuring 80 minutes of live original music performed by 4 local songwriters/songwriting duos spread across two 40-minute sets, with a brief intermission in between sets.

Featured performers – Brandon Brewer, Tab Caudill, Pam Perry, Julian Wolf

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Gleaves is bringing his heartfelt contemporary Appalachian music to the Berea Arts Council!  This FREE ADMISSION concert offers the opportunity to hear Sam perform songs from his brand-new album, HONEST, as well as favorites both old and new, traditional and original.  Doors will open at 6:30 pm and music will begin at 7 pm.  Sam’s performance is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Join us for a comedy special at the BAC, headlining with Kentucky comedian, Joe Deuce! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Can be bought online or at the gallery. This is a night of laughter you don't want to miss out on!!

https://bereaartscouncil.networkforgood.com/events/75506-stand-up-comedy-special-featuring-joe-deuce-at-the-bac

Join us for our upcoming Literary Open Mic featuring two of Berea’s authors, Bernard Clay and Rachel Burnside.

Kentucky native Bernard Clay grew up in Louisville. He has spent years developing a deep appreciation of the state's unique natural and urban areas. Bernard is a member of the Affrilachian Poets collective. His work can be found in various journals and anthologies. He currently lives on Scorpion Hollow Farm in eastern Kentucky with his herbalist partner Lauren, founder of Resilient Roots, where he homesteads and continues writing.

Rachel is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician. Her written works have received high recognition from the Chicago Screenplay Awards and the San Diego Movie Awards. Since she was very young, she has enjoyed the art of storytelling in many forms and was introduced to scriptwriting in a college class. After completing her B.A. in Theatre from Berea College, she obtained her law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and is now a licensed attorney in Kentucky.

Join us on September 14th for the opening reception of the Berea Black History and Heritage Exhibit!

In partnership with Our Land of Promise, we are proud to present this exhibit that honors and celebrates the rich history and heritage of Berea's Black community. The exhibit will be on display September through November.

Date: September 14th
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Location: Berea Arts Council Gallery, 444 Chestnut St, Berea, KY 40403

This is an event you won't want to miss! Come and explore the stories and contributions of remarkable individuals who have shaped the history of our community.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for our upcoming Literary Open Mic featuring two of Berea’s authors, Bernard Clay and Rachel Burnside.

Kentucky native Bernard Clay grew up in Louisville. He has spent years developing a deep appreciation of the state's unique natural and urban areas. Bernard is a member of the Affrilachian Poets collective. His work can be found in various journals and anthologies. He currently lives on Scorpion Hollow Farm in eastern Kentucky with his herbalist partner Lauren, founder of Resilient Roots, where he homesteads and continues writing. 

Rachel is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician.  Her written works have received high recognition from the Chicago Screenplay Awards and the San Diego Movie Awards.  Since she was very young, she has enjoyed the art of storytelling in many forms and was introduced to scriptwriting in a college class.  After completing her B.A. in Theatre from Berea College, she obtained her law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and is now a licensed attorney in Kentucky.  

On first Thursdays, join us at the BAC for "Songwriters in the Round," an intimate evening featuring 80 minutes of live original music performed by 4 local songwriters/songwriting duos spread across two 40-minute sets, with a brief intermission in between sets.

Featured performers – Kevin Jones, Stick and Bindle, Denise Martin, and 40 Deep

Admission is free! Donations will be gladly accepted to support the mission of the BAC — sharing art for everyone in our community!

Them Lasses is an all-female acoustic vocal harmony trio based in Winchester, Kentucky. They describe themselves as "a fun and folksy trio of pickin', singin' and songwritin' women!"

https://themlasses.wixsite.com/them-lasses

Admission is $10 online or at the door while seats last, and the bar will be open throughout the performance.

The Berea Arts Council invites you to share your literary expressions in a friendly, supportive listening environment. Bring your poems, short stories, scenes from plays, excerpts from creative nonfiction --reading is not required, come to listen and learn! This month's featured speaker is local author Leigh Claire Schmidli. LEIGH CLAIRE SCHMIDLI thinks of many places as home: from Bangkok to Den Haag, from the Midwestern U.S. to the South. She writes poetry, essays, and fiction, enjoys reading work with lyrical leanings, and cooks elaborate meals that remind her of all the places she calls home. She'll use ginger in just about anything, even a story.

Admission is free for all ages to attend, and the bar will be open with beverages for sale.

Join us at the Berea Arts Council for an evening of Appalachian Story Telling with Octavia Sexton on August 10th. Admission is FREE and open to all ages, doors open at 6:30pm and the storytelling begins at 7pm.

Octavia Sexton, who grew up in the Appalachian tradition of storytelling, shares tales in her natural dialect. She performs a variety of stories, including folktales, ghost 'haint' tales, personal stories, and stories from students in her writing workshops.

https://www.facebook.com/share/MwxVzhdeQ92KTQj7/

Join us for Second Saturday Art Talks at the Berea Arts Council! Admission is FREE for anyone! Bring something new or old that you have created to the gallery and share about it in a friendly environment. Doors open at 1:30, starts at 2pm.

Join us for BAC's improv comedy night! Our team of local actors are ready to make you laugh with this fun and loose performance at the Berea Arts Council. Come ready to have a drink, shout a profession, and laugh.

Admission is free and our bar will be open with beverages for sale.

On first Thursdays, join us at the BAC for "Songwriters in the Round," an intimate evening featuring 80 minutes of live original music performed by 4 local songwriters/songwriting duos spread across two 40-minute sets, with a brief intermission in between sets.

Featured performers – Charity Gilbert, Anthony Joe Highley, Courtlin Lovell, and Owen Reynolds

Admission is free, and there will be beverages for sale. Donations will be gladly accepted to support the mission of the BAC — sharing art for everyone in our community!

An Evening of Songs and Stories with Mitch Barrett: A Kid-Friendly Adventure

Join us for a fun-filled evening with celebrated songwriter Mitch Barrett at the Berea Arts Council on July 20th at 5pm! This kid-friendly event is perfect for families to enjoy together. Mitch will captivate young and old alike with his engaging storytelling and lively music. Admission is free, so bring your friends and family for a delightful evening of songs and stories that will spark your imagination and leave you smiling. Free refreshments will be provided.

The Berea Arts Council invites you to share your literary expressions in a friendly, supportive listening environment. Bring your poems, short stories, scenes from plays, excerpts from creative nonfiction --reading is not required, come to listen and learn! This month's featured speaker is Marianne Peel, author of the forthcoming Singing Is Praying Twice book of poetry and her 2021 No Distance Between Us from Shadelandhouse Modern Press. Marianne, a retired English teacher, is a poet whose work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. 

https://smpbooks.com/product/singing-is-praying-twice/

Admission is free for all ages to attend, and the bar will be open with beverages for sale.

Join us for a Paint & Sip session at the BAC with Renee Mikell! CREATE A MASTERPIECE OF YOUR FURRY FRIEND: WE SHOW YOU HOW!! This will be taking place on Sunday July 14th at the BAC’s gallery. Admission: $35.00/Person. Price includes all supplies needed!

Registration required before midnight on Friday, July 12th

Please provide your photo, so it may be prepped for your painting!

***Email photos to Reneegrenade@icloud.com ***

Get your tickets online or in our gallery!

Do you have a piece of work that you have been working on and feel stuck, something you just finished  or maybe you've got something in the corner needing to be dusted off? Bring it with you and come talk about it! 

This is a critique session in which artists engaged in creating non-functional fine arts are invited to an open and welcoming space to share artwork and ideas, solicit input from other fine artists, and create a community of sharing, networking and collaboration.

Join us at the Berea Arts Council for a FREE Literary Reading program featuring author, MK Asante on Wednesday, July 10th. Doors open at 6:30pm and reading starts at 7pm. MK Asante is a best-selling author, award-winning filmmaker, recording artist, and distinguished professor who the Los Angeles Times calls “One of America’s best storytellers.”

The Berea Arts Council invites you to share your literary expressions in a friendly, supportive listening environment. Bring your poems, short stories, scenes from plays, excerpts from creative nonfiction --reading is not required, come to listen and learn! This month's featured speaker is local authors, Mary Louise Wies & Chris Green

Admission is free for all ages to attend, and the bar will be open with beverages for sale.