MADISON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
90 S Main St, Marshall, NC 28753 www.madisoncountyarts.com

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Organizations Filed Purposes: Strengthening Community through the Arts.

Festivals The Bluff Mountain Festival, celebrating 25 years in June, began as a community action project to raise funds to halt the clear cutting of Bluff Mountain. Now a fundraiser for MCAC, the festival, staged on the grounds of the Hot Springs Spa and Resort, is a "must-do" event regionally. Musicians donate their time and the festival is a free event. Artist vendors sell their wares, local non-profits sell food and the popular silent auction is all part of the fun. Our Art on the Island fall festival highlights the many craft artisans in our region. The annual Holiday Sale coincides with the downtown association's Jingle Mingle on Main in downtown Marshall. Merchants stay open late on a Friday evening, live music abounds and Santa strolls down Main Street bringing a Ho-Ho to the holiday.

Educational Programs One of our signature programs is our JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) program. Currently we have 60 students enrolled and nine artist staff members. Weekly sessions begins with community singing and parents, siblings and grandparents are invited to participate. Students break into smaller groups for their classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, clogging, mandolin and string band. Jam students perform throughout the year at several events including The Bluff Mountain Festival and Art on the Island. The Senior String Band is regularly invited to perform at various community events. JAM is a low cost program and is funded in part by the TAPS (Traditional Arts Program) of the North Carolina Arts Council. No student is turned away for lack of funds. During the summer, MCAC hosts a one-week JAM camp.

First Stage Youth Theatre became a program of the Madison County Arts Council in 2013. Classes are taught after-school in two elementary schools and the middle school. The program provides drama instruction at low cost to participants. Again, no student is turned away for lack of funds. Each semester ends with a class performance. FSYT also produces one week of low cost summer camp in three locations across the county. We are delighted to be collaborating with a local ballet teacher and host the Marshall Ballet School, ballet for young children. Concert Series MCAC concerts are produced around the county including at Mars Hill University, the Historic Depot in Marshall and at the Ebbs Chapel Performing Arts Center. Our concerts include nationally known and internationally known acts. We have featured Grammy Award winners, singer songwriters, storytellers, swing and bluegrass music. We also highlight local artists several times a year. Our summer series takes place in the northeastern section of the county at the Ebbs Chapel Performing Arts Center. Many of the audience members are summer residents and reside in a very remote location. We offer them quality entertainment and something a little different from what they experience in their hometowns.

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