Bower Center for the Arts is a hub for artistic and creative activities.  Whether you are interested in viewing artwork in the gallery, attending events and concerts, or just taking a class that helps you explore your creative side, we have a little bit of everything for everyone. 

Question of the Week:

What would make you more likely to visit Bower Center more often? 

Liz & Nilko: Latin Americana Folk Duo

• May 24, 2025
• 6:00-8:00pm
• Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Experience the vibrant fusion of Appalachian soul and Andean rhythm with Liz & Nilko, the acclaimed Latin Americana folk duo. Join award-winning artists Liz Chidester and Nilko Andreas for an unforgettable evening of rich harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and global musical traditions.

Virginia Hollow

• June 28, 2025
• 6:00-8:00pm
• Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Get swept away by the heartfelt sound of Virginia Hollow, a Floyd, VA-based trio blending Americana, folk, and country with a dash of bluegrass and rock. With soulful originals, playful banter, and rich harmonies, their live show promises a joyful, moving journey through life’s highs and lows.

Chalk It Up to Summer: Free Family Art Day

• May 24, 2025
• 12:00-2:00pm
• Admission is FREE. Registration is not requried, but appreciated for planning purposes.

Chalk It Up to Summer is our inaugural FREE Family Art Day.  Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun: sidewalk chalk painting, chalk rubbings, and outdoor scavenger hunt.  

About CAB Kids:

Creative Arts for Bower Kids (CAB Kids) is a community-driven initiative by Bower Center for the Arts that aims to introduce families to the arts in an accessible, engaging, and safe space.  We hope to encourage creativity, connection, and lifelong appreciation for the arts through free Family Art Days at Bower Center and participation in local events.  This program is supported by the Al Stroobants Foundation and the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation.

Our new Outdoor Learning Center and Gathering Space is nearly complete! This beautiful 440-square-foot deck will serve as a flexible, welcoming area for a wide range of uses: offering a safe and inspiring place for our summer youth camps, heARTworks participants, art classes, and local artists to create. It’s also a perfect spot to step out during a concert, relax with a cup of coffee, meet with friends, or enjoy lunch in the heart of the community.

Thanks to the hundreds of vounteer hours contributed by our board member, Des Black, and his dedicated crew, the first phase of this project is wrapping up. Only a few final touches and inspections remain. We're thrilled to officially open the space with a ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication in late June. Keep your eyes and ears open for more details. 

Looking ahead, Phase Two plans to bring even more enhancements, including a shade awning, lighting, security cameras, and outdoor furniture. If you'd like to support this next chapter of the project, please reach out to Executive Director Susan Martin at s.martin@bowercenter.org.

We can’t wait to share this new space with you! See you on the deck!

Summer at Bower is Back!
Each summer, Bower Center for the Arts hosts a variety of creative camps designed for the youth in our community. Led by our talented teaching artists, this year’s lineup includes five unique, week-long morning camps, each with its own artistic or imaginative theme. Camps run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the cost for each week is $175.

New for Summer 2025: Art Explorers – Afternoon Adventures!

We’re excited to launch Art Explorers, a brand-new afternoon program designed to spark creativity, connection, and curiosity. These engaging sessions combine hands-on art projects with enriching community experiences, including walking field trips and local partners like the Bedford Public Library, Bedford Urban Gardens (BUG), Noteworthy, Bedford Get Together, and Wharton Garden. Each week features a unique theme and collaboration!

Perfect for rounding out a full day at Bower or adding a fun, meaningful activity to your child’s afternoon, Art Explorers runs Monday through Friday from 1:00–4:00 p.m. for just $75 per week.

Spaces are limited, so sign up today and let the afternoon adventures begin!

Last Call!  Registration closes by midnight Saturday!

Clay Works: Adult Hand-Building and Wheel-Throwing

• Tuesdays, May 27 - July 1
• 6pm - 8pm
• Instructor: Thomas Kilian

The Clay Craft Intensive: Form, Function, and Finish

• 5 Day Intensive Workshop, July 14-18
• 6pm-8pm
• Instructor: Thomas Kilian

Have the training, but are looking for the space, time, supplies, and guidance to work on sharpening your skills?  Dotti and Thomas host an array of Open Studios in mosaics and clay for artists to work here at Bower Center for the Arts.  Check the course schedule for available Open Studio times. 

The Braaten Gallery is featuring the works of Kaye Lipscomb in her exhibit titled "Inside/Out."  Lipscomb was awarded Best in Show in our National Juried Paper Arts Exhibition in 2022.  Her enlightening podcast can be heard HERE. 

In the Terrace Gallery, we have the exhibit "Limited Edition." These works were completed by artists who are members of the Bower Center family.  This includes studio artists, staff members, Bower Center instructors,  board members, and committee members .

A reception for both of these exhibits will be held on Friday, June 13 at 5:00pm.  At this reception, we will also formally introduce our 2025 Suzie Viemeister Artist in Residence, Andrea Wild.  The reception is open to the public.  As always, admission to our galleries is free!

Early bird registration has just opened for the 13th Annual National Juried Exhibit.  The deadline for our Early Bird registration is July 12, 2025.

To see a full list of all events and gallery receptions here at the Bower Center click on the button below!