Community Outreach

The continuous goal of The Bascom’s programming is focused on building essential creative skills for area youth and adults, increasing professional development opportunities for artists and educators, and becoming a key player in the creative economy in Western North Carolina. As such, we are always looking for ways to expand our range of influence – digging deep within the community to reach the underserved. 

Through a variety of initiatives, The Bascom serves the surrounding areas with mission driven public programs including free admission to theme-based exhibitions paired with artist talks, gallery walks, public receptions, and networking events. The Bascom works with school and community groups to provide tours and off-campus activities that encourage critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Fostering long-term strategic partnerships with local and regional organizations, The Bascom integrates arts programming across a diverse field with the intent to create visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking, and doing.

We believe that art is for everyone and should be accessible to everyone. Many of The Bascom’s public programs are free to participants thanks to broad support from a variety of funding sources both public and private. A well supported scholarship program further ensures that our exhibitions and programs are available to people of all ages, backgrounds and physical/mental abilities.