About Us

The Yadkin Arts Council

The Yadkin Arts Council is a nonprofit 501(C)3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Yadkin County citizens through the arts. The Yadkin Arts Council has been a creative beacon in the community since 1975 and has shared space all over Yadkinville, including in the Yadkinville High School auditorium, and even a retired freezer locker! Finally, we found our permanent home when the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center opened its doors in September 2011. Learn More About the History of the Yadkin Arts Council

“Transforming lives in our community through the arts by offering opportunities to encounter, create, and participate.”

Yadkin Cultural Arts Center

While we started small in those shared spaces, we have expanded rapidly in our new space, bringing big city excitement to our small town!

The Yadkin Cultural Arts Center is the home for our Yadkin Arts Council, and also features the 193-seat Willingham Theater, the YARD resident artist studios, The Willingham Performing Arts Academy, the Center Bistro, the Welborn Gallery, the Spark Costume Shop, meeting space and classrooms, and the versatile Front Yard space.

Yadkin Arts Cultural Center Facilities

Yadkin Arts Council

The Arts Council is governed by a 20-member Board. It receives grassroots funding from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Office of Cultural Resources. The Yadkin Arts Council allocates these funds for arts experience and education programs in the schools.

Willingham Theater

This state-of-the-art facility seats 193 patrons for live play productions as well as film showings throughout the year. It is also a space of learning, engagement, and expression for our students who join us for our summer camps each year. >> Learn More

Resident Artist Studios

Sometimes it can be difficult to create in your home due to a lack of space or inability to dip into that creative mindset. Because of this, we provide resident art studios which can be rented so you can dedicate a space for your creative work. In addition, patrons can arrange to visit the studios to meet with artists and watch them work. >> Learn More

The Center Bistro

The Center Bistro provides a convenient place to grab breakfast or lunch throughout the week, with ample seating inside as well as a dining patio on the Yadkin Cultural Art Center’s outdoor plaza. The menu has something for every taste, from breakfast items, deli sandwiches and wraps, to soups and salads. You’ll also find the Red Wall Gallery in the bistro, which features work by our Artist Members and other local artists. >> Learn More

Welborn Gallery

The Welborn Gallery is located just outside the Willingham Theater in the arts center and allows us to expose both residents and visitors to a variety of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works of art from local and regional artists alike. >> Learn More

Private Rental Space

Meeting Space, Classrooms + Front Yard Space

Among the many facilities available in our arts center, we also maintain private rental space for meetings, bridal showers, or even a dinner party! Whatever you need space for, we can accommodate it. We also have multiple classrooms for our creative workshops and summer art camps. The beautiful Front Yard space provides the comfort and intimacy of your living room while allowing guests plenty of space to socialize and celebrate.
>> Learn More

Some of the many community offerings of the Yadkin Arts Council:

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Annual Harvest Festival

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Annual Yadkin Valley Bluegrass Convention

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Annual Juried Art Show

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Bi-monthly artist exhibitions in the Welborn Gallery

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Youth theatre program

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Messiah Community Chorus Concert

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Scholarships in performing and visual arts

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Summer arts programs

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Art a la Carte and other art classes and workshops

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School art experiences

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Year-round performances and movies in the Willingham Theater

Visit the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center today and learn how you can enrich your life through our programs!

Meet Our People

JOHN WILLINGHAM

President

SARAH SMITH

Executive Director

RON STACKER THOMPSON

Founding Artistic Director

CHARLIE KLUTTZ

Artistic Director

TIM HARRISON

Technical Director &
Sound Engineer

JAMES SHEEK

Facilities &
Operations Manager

SAVANA THOMPSON

Administrative Assistant & Box Office Manager

LISA DRUM

Red Wall Gallery Curator

AMOS WESTMORELAND

Welborn Gallery Curator

Staff Members:

John Willingham President (john@yadkinarts.org)
Sarah Smith Executive Director (sarah@yadkinarts.org)
Charlie Kluttz Artistic Director (charlie@yadkinarts.org)
James Sheek Facilities & Operations Manager (james@yadkinarts.org)
Tammy Blackstock Center Bistro General Manager (centerbistro@yadkinarts.org)
Tim Harrison Technical Director (timvharrison@gmail.com)
Savana Thompson Administrative Assistant & Box Office Manager (savana@yadkinarts.org)
Lisa Drum Red Wall Gallery Curator (lisa@yadkinarts.org)
Box Office, Artist Services, Junior Appalachian Musicians, etc (info@yadkinarts.org)

Board Members:

John Willingham President
Mark Brandon Vice-President and Treasurer
Gray Renegar Secretary
Ercel Carter Board Member
Joel Cornelius Board Member
Dan Cornelius Board Member
Jim Drum Board Member

Lisa Drum Board Member
Robert Garcia Board Member
Angel Johnson Board Member
Joy Kay Board Member
Mike Koser Board Member
Patrick Long Board Member
Anna Peterson Board Member

Patricia Sarabia Board Member
Ron Stacker Thompson Board Member
Shannon Taylor Board Member
Susie Tickle Board Member
Amos Westmoreland Board Member
Donna Willingham Board Member