Stecoah Valley Arts Crafts & Educational Center Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF STECOAH AND GRAHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: THE CENTER SERVICES THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND THE USE OF THE FACILITY AS FOLLOWS: AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM - PROVIDED ACADEMIC, SOCIAL/CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR APPROX 50 GRAHAM COUNTY STUDENTS. JUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS (JAM) PROGRAM - PROVIDED APPROX 400 HOURS OF MUSICAL INSTRUCTION TO 20 STUDENTS. SHARED USE KITCHEN FACILITY - PROVIDED CERTIFIED KITCHEN FACILITIES TO APPROX 750 FOOD ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MEETING ROOMS OUTDOOR FACILITIES USED BY APPROX 500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OFFICE SPACE, INTERNET, COPY/FAX SERVICES PROVIDED TO 2 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND APPROXIMATELY 500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. VISITOR SERVICES - ASSISTED LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY BY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO APPROX 4000 VISITORS. HOLIDAYS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS - PROVIDED OPPORUNITY FOR COMMUNITY SHARING AND BONDING TO APPROX 400 PARTICIPANTS. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL YOUTH AND ADULTS AND TO INCREASE LOCAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

MOUNTAIN CULTURAL ARTS : THE CENTER PRESERVES AND PROMOTES APPALACHIAN CULTURAL ARTS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: - "APPALACHIAN EVENING" SUMMER CONCERT AND DINNER SERIES - AUTHENTIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC AND FOOD PROVIDED TO AN AUDIENCE OF APPROX 2300. - ARTISANS GALLERY AND DRIVE ABOUT - PROVIDED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND SUPPORT FOR OVER 180 ARTISTS AND 4900 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. - ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL - PROVIDED DEMONSTRATIONS, DISPLAYS, COUNTY FAIR, MUSIC, DANCE, ETC TO APPROX 3000 ATTENDEES. - ARTS CLASSES AND PROGRAMS - PROVIDED ARTS EDUCATIONAL OPPORUNITES TO APPROX 50 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH 10 CLASSES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO SAVE THE SPECIAL CULTURE OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THAT IS RAPIDLY FADING AWAY. THE CENTER USES MULTI-FACETED APPROACH THAT COMBINES ENTERTAINMENT, DANCE, FESTIVALS, ART, CLASSES AND EVENTS TO ENCOURAGE THE PERPETUATION OF THESE ORIGINAL SKILLS THROUGH ECONOMIC INCENTIVES. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PARTICIPANTS, AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

BUILDING PRESERVATION: THE CENTER WAS FORMED BY A GROUP OF LOCAL CITIZENS TO SAVE THEIR COMMUNITY SCHOOL AFTER IT WAS CLOSED. THEY PLANNED TO RETURN THE SCHOOL TO ITS ORIGINAL ROLE AS THE CENTER OF THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN HAVE IT LEFT VACANT. THE MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1926 USING ROCK CONSTRUCTION METHODS THAT CANNOT BE EASILY REPLICATED TODAY. THE GYMNASIUM WAS BUILT IN 1950. THE PROPERTY IS NOW LISTED ON THE NC STUDY LIST OF HISTORIC PLACES. SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE BUILDING RESTORATION PROJECT IS TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE BUILDING/GROUNDS FOR THE CONTINUED USE OF THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO PRESERVES A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE 1920'S ERA ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 15,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS ANNUALLY.