Your online resource for the Smoky Mountains
Situated on a historic six-acre campus in Highlands, North Carolina, The Bascom is Western North Carolina’s premier visual arts center. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century bank barn, this vibrant cultural institution offers world-class art exhibitions, hands-on creative workshops, outdoor sculpture trails, and community events that celebrate Appalachian craftsmanship and contemporary fine art.
323 Franklin Road, Highlands, NC 28741 (Short walk or drive from downtown Highlands)
Free (Grounds, trail, and main gallery exhibitions; donations appreciated)
Handcrafted ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and fine art created by local and regional artisans
Dog-friendly (Allowed throughout outdoor trails and campus grounds)
Fully accessible (Family-friendly facility)
6 acres (Historic mountain campus)
Features year-round rotating exhibitions showcasing works by regional Appalachian artists alongside nationally renowned painters, sculptors, and photographers.
A state-of-the-art 2,500-square-foot ceramics and pottery studio offering open studio time, resident artist demonstrations, and pottery classes for all skill levels.
A peaceful outdoor walking path winding through native forest, stream beds, and landscaped gardens punctuated by large-scale contemporary sculptures.
Visitors enter the campus across the Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge, a historic 19th-century timber-truss bridge reconstructed on site.
Offers a robust calendar of adult masterclasses, youth summer camps, community lectures, and family art days.