ABOUT US
The Wythe Arts Council was formed in 1985 by community members who were passionate about bringing arts, music, and culture to Wythe County, Virginia. The initial target was developing the Chautauqua Festival, which is a week long music and arts festival that showcases local artists of all kinds and features nightly entertainment. The festival has evolved over the years, but it's still one of Wytheville's most highly anticipated events!
Founding members:
Linda Butt, Jean Craig Bowman, Anne B. Crockett-Stark, Jim Coen, John Dowd,
Judson Lambert, Vicky Neese, Beth Pendleton, and Patricia Shaffer Thompson
Members of the Inaugural Board in the 30th Anniversary Parade of the Chautauqua Festival , 2014.
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Along with the Chautauqua Festival, the Wythe Arts Council works to promote and showcase all forms of art and music, and foster a creative environment across Wythe County and Southwest Virginia. The Council has added several new events that occur throughout the year including Art at the Crossroads, Brews & Bands, Festival of Trees, Miss Chautauqua Pageant, and various fundraisers that help support these activities.
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Support for these events is also provided through the Virginia Tourism Commission, Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Town of Wytheville, Wythe County, and our many corporate sponsors and patrons. We truly could not serve the community without these passionate partners that fund and encourage our work.
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We are always open to new ideas for events and funding opportunities, so don't hesitate to reach out. We are also always looking for volunteers and new board members. Please contact us if you would be interested in serving in any capacity to help continue growing our art and music community!