Sponsored by Carter Bank.
Join Piedmont Arts and Beegins With You for a fun Family Day featuring a puppet-making craft, Easter egg hunt and a giant puppet parade by Paperhand Puppet Intervention from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 12 in the Art Garden.
Paperhand Puppet Intervention is a unique puppet theater based in Saxapahaw, N.C. Its members have been creating giant papier-mâché puppets, masks, shadow plays and spectacle performances since 1997. As part of their parades they tell stories, beat drums and encourage interaction. Their award-winning performances aim to be an inspiration, a call to action and a celebration for everyone to enjoy.
This event is free and open to the public.
Admission Free
Join emcee Anna Wheeler for a fun open mic night from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, April 10 at Piedmont Arts. Grab the mic and express yourself through music, poetry, or comedy. Performers may sign up for a five-minute spot upon arrival.
This event is free to the performers and audience. A cash bar will be available.
Admission Free
Sponsored by Olivia & Pres Garrett, Janet Lewis, Beverly & George Lyle, Lynwood Artists, Anne & Eric Smith and Sovah Health.
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of its new exhibits. A gallery talk will be held at 6:15 p.m. followed by an interpretive dance performance in conjunction with Pieter Bain's exhibit "Untethered." Complimentary refreshments will be served. Music by Spencer Koger.
Exhibits on view:
This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP with the number and names of the attendees in your party by Wednesday, March 26.
RSVP Here
Nominations Due: 5 p.m., Friday, March 14, 2025
Piedmont Arts is accepting nominations for the 2025 Clyde Hooker Award, which honors supporters of the arts in Martinsville-Henry County. Nominees should be individuals or businesses that are involved in and support Piedmont Arts and other arts and cultural organizations in the region. Recipients of the Clyde Hooker Award will be honored at a special reception.
About the Award
The Clyde Hooker Award was established by the Piedmont Arts Board of Directors in 2003 to recognize individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to arts and culture in Martinsville-Henry County. The award is named in honor of J. Clyde Hooker Jr. for his generous support of Piedmont Arts and the arts in Martinsville-Henry County.
Make a Nomination
Use the links below to make a nomination online or download a PDF of the nomination form.
Students attending Carlisle, Meadowview, Mt. Olivet and Carver elementary schools will have work on display March 4-April 12 in the Foster Gallery.
A free reception for the students and their families will be held from 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, March 12 at Piedmont Arts.
The Foster Gallery is an important part of Piedmont Arts’ community programming. Exhibits in the gallery have been curated in partnership with Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County for more than 25 years. A new exhibit is installed every six to eight weeks to allow work by students from all 19 schools in Martinsville-Henry County to be displayed during the year.
Admission Free
Sponsored by Martinsville Eyecare Center, VisitMartinsville, Atlantic Union Bank, Bassett Furniture, Inc., Diversified Trust, First Piedmont Corporation, Martinsville Family Medicine, Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc., Snyder Orthodontics, Stone Dynamics, Inc., Greg James Insurance, Lou Harris, Inc., Young, Haskins, Mann, Gregory, LLC, Draper Flowers & Gifts, Third Bay Cafe
Ladies and gentlemen! Get ready for a fun night of food, drinks and entertainment at Under the Big Top: The Greatest Fundraiser on Earth from 7-10 p.m., Friday, March 7 at Piedmont Arts.
This circus-themed event will feature food, drinks and entertainment, including live music by Four Brothers Jazz, a 360-degree photo booth, caricatures, carnival games and circus performers. Guests should dress in “carnival cocktail” attire or cocktail party clothing with a colorful, circus-themed flair.
Guests can also take part in a 50/50 raffle and a live auction for a chance to throw a pie at beloved community member Pres Garrett.
Tickets are $75 per person and include unlimited light bites, beer, wine and cotton candy champagne cocktails. 50/50 raffle tickets start at $5 a piece. Game tickets are $5 for three games or $10 for eight games. Caricatures are $20 each. Proceeds support Piedmont Arts programming in Martinsville-Henry County.
50/50 Raffle
Guess the number of peanuts in the tub and win big. The closest guess without going over will win 50% of the raffle pot and all the peanuts. The winner will be announced Friday, March 7 at Under the Big Top: The Greatest Fundraiser on Earth. Raffle tickets will be available at the event.
Click here to see an image of the tub of peanuts.
Make sure to include your guess in the comments when checking out.
This event has been canceled due to inclement weather.
Students attending Carlisle, Fieldale-Collinsville, Laurel Park and Martinsville middle schools have work on display through March 1 in the Foster Gallery.
A free reception for the students and their families will be held from 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Piedmont Arts. If schools are closed due to inclement weather on Feb. 19, the Foster Gallery reception will not take place.
The Foster Gallery is an important part of Piedmont Arts’ community programming. Exhibits in the gallery have been curated in partnership with Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County for more than 25 years. A new exhibit is installed every six to eight weeks to allow work by students from all 19 schools in Martinsville-Henry County to be displayed during the year.
Sponsored by Carter Bank, Kappa Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Martinsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Snacks provided by Food Lion, Greensboro Road.
The annual African American Read-in + Family Day will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Piedmont Arts. Lyrical artist Taye the Truth and storyteller Fred Motley will perform. Visitors can view books on loan from the collection of Joyce and Kenneth Staples. A craft for kids and snacks will be available. This event is admission free. All ages are welcome.
Event schedule
| 10 a.m. | Performance by Taye the Truth |
| 10:30 a.m. | Story time with Fred Motley |
| 11 a.m. | Performance by Taye the Truth |
| 11:30 a.m. | Story time with Fred Motley |
| 12 p.m. | Read-in in the galleries |
This event is held in conjunction with the National African American Read-in, a groundbreaking effort to encourage communities to read together, centering on African American books and authors. The initiative was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. It has reached more than six million participants around the world.
Admission Free
Poet and scholar TJ Anderson III will discuss his journey as a writer and share readings from his award-winning poetry.
Anderson is a professor of English at Hollins University. His research focuses on jazz poetry, African American literature, and the work of Aimé Césare. He was a Fulbright Scholar at Cairo University where he conducted research on the influence of jazz on contemporary Egyptian music. He is the author of six books and the acclaimed spoken word album “Blood Octave.”
A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. The talk will begin at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Donations are encouraged. RSVP attendance here.
Admission Free
Sponsored by Olivia & Pres Garrett, Ben Gravely, Shana & Japhet LeGrant, Lynwood Artists and Barbara & Guy Stanley. Words Matter and Bjørn Sterri: Family Photographs were organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of its new exhibits. Free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and light refreshments. Music by Joanie McPeak.
Please RSVP attendance here.
Admission Free
Sponsored by Stifel and Stateline Aesthetics. This performance is partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Online ticket sales end Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11 p.m. Tickets will be available at the box office.
There’s no better way to lift your spirits than with the music of the season delivered in full sound and spectacle by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. David Stewart Wiley conducts the Holiday Pops with all the magical elements you have come to expect — high energy, familiar carols and lots of holiday warmth. Guest soloist Michael Lynche from American Idol will join the symphony for this special performance.
Featuring guest soloist Michael Lynche. Lynche is a new breed of soul singer with completely classic influences. Traces of Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Sam Cooke and James Brown all seem to flash in this uniquely talented performer. Undeniable charisma, well-crafted song arrangements and a voice soaked in soul give the big man class all his own. “Big Mike” — as he was known while winning over the hearts of a nation during his stint on American Idol — has talent so versatile, he’s played intimate jazz and blues clubs, 20,000 seat arenas, and opera halls with 100-piece orchestras backing him. Through it all “Big Mike” has always had one singular goal: to spread a message of love wherever he goes.
Event Schedule
| 1:30 p.m. | Lobby and box office open |
| 2 p.m. | Auditorium opens |
| 3 p.m. | Concert begins |
Family or individual adult WIC cardholders with ID receive free general admission. Tickets can be picked up at Piedmont Arts or at the door on the night of the event.
Altrusa will collect non-perishable food items for Grace Network in the lobby during the symphony's performance.
Sponsored by Chip Wyatt-State Farm, Press Glass, Carter Bank
Piedmont Arts will kick off the holiday season with the annual lighting of the Art Garden Christmas tree from 4 – 6 pm. Enjoy holiday music by the Martinsville High School Jazz Band and the First Baptist Church Choir, Gale Buck: Storytelling Santa, snacks and crafts. This event is free and open to the public.
Just like the sculptures in the Art Garden, the Christmas tree will be a work of art. Created by Ian Hogg using more than 3,000 lights, the tree will be lit at sunset and brighten the Art Garden through New Year’s Day.
Sponsored by King's Grant
Join Piedmont Arts for a lecture by the incomparable humorist and scholar Dr. Elliot Engel. Optional catered dinner begins at 6 p.m. Lecture begins at 7 p.m.
Many scholars consider Leonardo da Vinci to be the greatest artistic genius in the history of Western Civilization. Dr. Elliot Engel will probe the breadth and depth of da Vinci's extraordinary mind while revealing the fascinating causes for his many unfinished masterpieces. He even tackles the universal mystery of Mona Lisa’s smile.
Dr. Engel has taught at the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and Duke University. He has written 10 books published in England, Japan, Turkey, and the United States. His mini-lecture series on Charles Dickens ran on PBS television stations around the country. His articles have appeared in numerous newspapers and national magazines including Newsweek. Hehas lectured throughout the United States and on all the continents, including Antarctica. He was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts in England for his academic work and service in promoting Charles Dickens in 2009. He lives in Raleigh, N.C.
Sponsored by Brenda Ayers, Bunco Babes, Chix with Stix, Martha Drane, Floyd Quilt Guild, Inc., Marty Gardner, Suzanne Hutchens, Lynwood Artists, Anne & Gene Madonia, Nancy Philpott, Betty Lou & Ron Pigg, Stitch Party Studio, Julie Thomas, Virginia Consortium of Quilters, Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild and Lynn & Noel Ward
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of The Art of the Quilt. Free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and light refreshments. Music by Ann Nichols.
RSVP attendance by Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
Enter to win a quilt created by members of Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild. Quilt donated by Karen Despot. $5 per entry. Winner announced Friday, Jan. 10.
Join Piedmont Arts for a day trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to view Fine Arts & Flowers. This spectacular museum-wide exhibition is presented by The Council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with creative floral designs by Garden Club of Virginia, Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, and Ikebana of Richmond. Ticket includes:
Seating for this trip is limited. Call 276.632.3221 or email Programs Coordinator Lauren Ellis at lellis@piedmontarts.org for more information.
Get ready to jump, jive, and wail to live music by Bob Peckman Jazz Band at this hip Swing Dance Party. Some of your favorite Dancing for the Arts choreographers and coaches may even make a special appearance. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Band performs at 7 pm.
Join Piedmont Art and Charity League for a reception honoring students with work on display in the Foster Gallery. Exhibiting students and their families are invited to attend.
The Foster Gallery showcases work by students from Martinsville and Henry County schools. Exhibits are curated every six to eight week, allowing work by students from all 19 area schools to be displayed during the year.
For over 25 years, the Foster Gallery has been generously curated by Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County. Piedmont Arts and Charity League believe that fostering an early exposure to the arts is critical for a well-rounded educational experience.
| Exhibit dates | Reception | Schools |
| Sept. 10 – 28 | Wednesday, Sept. 18 |
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| Oct. 1 – 25 | Wednesday, Oct. 16 |
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| Nov. 12 – Dec. 7 | Wednesday, Nov. 20 |
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| Dec. 10 – Jan. 25 | Wednesday, Jan. 8 |
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| Jan. 28 – March 1 | Wednesday, Feb. 19 |
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| March 4 – April 12 | Wednesday, March 12 |
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| April 15 – May 10 | Wednesday, April 30 |
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Please call Piedmont Arts at 276-632-3221 to be added to our waiting list.
On Friday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m., join Piedmont Arts and their team of local chefs for, “Fortune + Flavor: Friday the 13!” This superstitious fundraiser features themed small-bites, craft cocktails, games and raffles, live music, and fun tarot readings. Show us if you're feeling lucky or unlucky by wearing all black or all white. Tickets are $50 and all-inclusive.
Fortunes:
Flavors:
Local chefs are gearing up to concoct small bites and craft cocktails, and we cannot wait to see the creativity that each of them will bring to their menus and tables. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Frith Performance Hall and the Pavilion.
This year, our chefs are:
History, Legends & Fairytales by Patricia Bellan-Gillen
Lingering:Contemplations in Clay by Jessica Bloch-Schulman
A Life in the Blue Ridge by Paula Melton
Music by Joanie McPeak
Click here to RSVP
Sponsored by Atlantic Union Bank
Summer is heating up and it's the perfect time for a cookout. Enjoy hot dogs and fixins, a cash bar and live music by Jake Earles.
Earles is a singer and guitar player from Axton, Va. He spent 20 years living in Nashville, Tn. — playing everywhere from honky tonks to the Grand Ole Opry — and has toured the country with acts like Tim McGraw. Earles brings a mix of country, Americana, folk and soul to the stage.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. No outside franks or dranks. In case of rain, Franks + Dranks will be held at Piedmont Arts.
$20 Advance tickets or $25 at the door.
Call or come by Piedmont Arts to purchase your ticket before the event.
It is with great pride that Piedmont Arts announces this year’s recipients of the J. Clyde Hooker Award: Guy Stanley, a pillar of Piedmont Arts and Martinsville and Henry County, and Rooster Walk, the beloved music festival that is integral to this community.
The Arts in Education award recipients and Scholarship recipients will be honored in a special ceremony on Wednesday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Piedmont Arts gallery.
The Arts in Education award recipients, Anne Norman Young teacher at Carlisle School, Bryan Dunn teacher at Magna Vista High School, and the Martinsville City Public Schools' Performing Arts Academy.
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of the museum's new exhibits. Gallery talk at 6:15 pm. Free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and light refreshments. Live music.
RSVP attendance here by May 28.
Admission Free
Entry is open to all artists living within a 100-mile radius of Martinsville, Virginia (check your location here). Artwork submitted for entry must have been completed within the last two years. Work previously exhibited in Expressions is not eligible. Up to two pieces of art may be submitted per artist. Unlike a juried exhibition, Expressions is open-entry, and all submitted works in compliance with the entry rules are accepted.
Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in seven categories, as well as purchase awards, the Lynwood Artists Award and Best In Show.
Entry Date
Saturday, May 18, 2024
10 am – 1 pm
Piedmont Arts
Click here for the online entry form.
This powerful story is told from the perspective of a single performer. An immersive storytelling experience performed in the round that blends comedy, improv, and audience interaction to tell the story of someone growing up in the shadow of their mother's struggle with suicidal depression while learning to grapple with their own journey. Every Brilliant Thing provides a life-affirming jolt of humanism, reminding us that hope comes from the miracles of life’s minutiae. Seating will be “in the round” so that every seat is a great seat.
Before the show, join us for a special Make Some Noise: Open Mic Night hosted by Greg Hackenberg. Various community resources and mental health services will be set up in the Art Garden for this event.
Organizations coming to the community resource fair:
Henry County Food Bank
Just Call Granny
Grace Network
Harvest Foundation
United Way
Virginia Harm Reduction
Peer Recovery Connection
YMCA
Blue Ridge Regional Library
Beegins With You Foundation
Piedmont Community Services
Community Resource Fair: 5:30-7:30
Make Some Noise Open Mic: 6:30-7:30
Every Brilliant Thing: 7:30-9:00
Sponsored by Carter Bank & Trust, in partnership with the Bee Flight Festival
Join us Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for our annual Earth Day Family Day in the Gravely-Lester Art Garden! Come celebrate Earth Day with free fun for all ages!
Join the Teen Arts Council for face painting and pollinator-themed crafts. The Blue Ridge Regional Library, the Lynwood Artists, and Bull Mountain Arts will be present with activities, art, and educational information. Join in planting on the Pollinator Path from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and participate in the Starling Ave. Scavenger Hunt! Food Lion will be on hand with an assortment of snacks.
The Bee City Logo Contest kickoff will also begin in the Art Garden. Grab some crayons, pens, or markers and sketch a rendering for the new Bee Flight logo! The winning design will be converted into a digital logo for use in future Bee Flight festivals and the winner will be credited and win a prize. More information will be available at the Bee City booth in the Art Garden during Saturday's event.
In addition to activities in the Art Garden, Bee Flight events will be taking place all day at the YMCA and Virginia Museum of Natural History.
The day kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at the YMCA with a Pollinator Fun Run around Starling Ave. The Fun Run will be followed by Healthy Kids Day activities at the YMCA. More information about this event and registration can be found here.
Slither your way to the museum on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day for the annual Reptile Festival! Bee City's festival headquarters will be housed here. Admission rates apply for VMNH. For more information and rates, please click here.
The Starling Ave. Scavenger Hunt will take place among the YMCA, the VMNH, the Gravely-Lester Art Garden, and Piedmont Arts. Rates apply for admission into VMNH where participants will pick up their cards. There are 9 stops with hints scattered down both blocks of Starling Avenue. Once your card is complete, drop it off in the designated box in the lobby of Piedmont Arts for the chance to win fabulous Uptown Martinsville prizes. Cards must be dropped off by 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.
Finally, at 6:30 p.m., join The Beegins With You Foundation for their Alice in Wonderland-themed "High Tea." This event is a fundraiser for the Foundation and includes games, food, music, and other entertainment. More information about this event can be found here.
Admission Free
Sponsored by Diversified Trust.
Lucian Simmons is vice chairman and worldwide head of Sotheby’s Restitution Department and Senior Specialist, Global Fine Arts, Sotheby’s New York.
Simmons works extensively with art collectors and their advisors throughout North America and Europe and has been involved in the sale of some of the most significant artworks to come to auction in recent years including the Scream by Edvard Munch (sold for $119m in 2012), Bronzino’s newly discovered self-portrait (sold for $10.5m in January 2023) and Kandinsky’s Murnau mit Kirche II (sold for $44.7m in March 2023). Simmons has worked on restitution and provenance issues since 1997 and has been involved in the resolution of claims to art works worth in excess of $1 billion.
Simmons has spoken widely on art market issues and in particular on the displacement of art during WWII. He has been interviewed on the subject on television and radio and has appeared in a number of film documentaries. He gives regular seminars at universities and law schools across North America and has given evidence to the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport of the House of Commons, London, to the European Parliament, Brussels, and to the Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets.
Reception at 6:30. Talk at 7.
RSVP Attendance Here by Monday, April 8.
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of the museum's new exhibits. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education Michael R. Taylor, PhD will present a gallery talk at 6:15 pm. Free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and light refreshments. Live music.
RSVP attendance here by March 25.
Admission Free
Suellen Coelho will discuss fashion and costume design. Coelho studied costume design in her home country of Brazil and holds an MFA in costume design from Louisiana State University, where she was also a teaching assistant. She joined the Hollins University theatre department in fall 2021 as an assistant professor teaching costume design and construction, stage makeup and props-related special topics courses in the theatre department.
Reception at 6:30 pm. Talk at 7 pm. Free with suggested donation of $20.
Sponsored by Carter Bank & Trust and Sovah Health
Take part in the museum’s annual celebration of African American artists, performers and writers. Enjoy story time, themed crafts, a public read-aloud and tours of the VMFA Artmobile.
About the Artmobile:
VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. VMFA on the Road will showcase the exhibition Love, Laughter, Tears: An Artist’s Guide to Emotions. This compilation of works from the VMFA collection examines the relationship between art and emotion across various cultures and time periods to explore human emotion as a unifying and universal factor.
Piedmont Arts' African American Read-In + Family Day is held in conjunction with the National African American Read-In established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This initiative has reached more than 6 million participants around the world.
Schedule of Events:
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. VMFA Artmobile and Top Dawgs Mobile food truck will be set up outside. Crafts, snacks, and face painting inside.
10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Live music by Taye the Truth
12 to 1 p.m. African American Read-In in the galleries
Sponsored by Betty Blessin, Imogene & Isadore Draper, Ben Gravely, Mallory & Richard Joyce, Debra Poirier & George Mehaffey, Jennifer Reis & Pete Mannen, Joan & Monty Montgomery, Madie & Jim Rountree, Gail Vogler, Brenda & Joe Williams and Lynwood Artists
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of the museum's new exhibits. Gallery talk at 6:15 pm. Free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and light refreshments. Live music by Ann Gardner.
RSVP attendance here or call 276.632.3221 by January 22.
Admission Free
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