Class Survey

Please take a moment to let us know what you’d like to study- Complete a survey on-line, in person or over the phone. You can also get involved by joining us on Fridays at 12noon for Brown Bag Lunches- ongoing.

Our classes will be designed for all ages and levels of experience as well as for local, regional and visiting populations.

Classes are forming now- Call for updates!

Brown Bag Lunches

We will begin hosting Brown Bag Lunch series on Fridays at 12noon at the Former Vaughan Library building starting in May. These meetings are essentially open forums for the community to voice their ideas, network and brainstorm with others like-minded helping steer the direction of where Chestnut Creek will go and what programming we provide.  Weather permitting we'll be under the shade tree in the yard at 608 W. Stuart Drive.  Otherwise, park in the lot at the Galax Regional Library and walk next door to the Arts and Crafts style house.

Mission Statement

Chestnut Creek School of Arts preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of southwest Virginia by fostering artistic and individual growth through classes in visual and performing arts, heritage and contemporary craft, and traditional music.

Vision

     The school is designed to provide a central setting in downtown Galax, where accomplished artists and musicians can share their skills and talents.   By providing an environment and the resources conducive to learning, Chestnut Creek School of the Arts’ goals are to:
• Communicate the value of art and traditional music.
• Improve arts education.
• Encourage cultural enrichment and creativity.
• Promote economic development.
• Preserve the heritage of SW VA.
     The primary format is to offer week-long and week-end workshops in a variety of media, appealing to a national and international market, as well as evening and daytime classes that will appeal to local school children and other residents within easy driving distance. The classes that will be the backbone for early programming are:
–Musical Instrument Building
–Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Dulcimer performance
–Carving
–Chair construction and caning
–Glass bead and jewelry making
–Quilting and Needlework
–Fiber Arts ( Spinning, Dyeing, Weaving)
–Studio art ( Drawing, Painting, Sculpture)

Our Campus

This region is our campus and we will be partnering with a number of organizations to provide a diverse and enriching program. Our offices are currently housed in the former Vaughan Library and will continue offering classes out of this historic landmark until our main facility undergoes a complete renovation. Our main facility is the former First National Bank located on the corner of Main and Grayson Street in downtown Galax –Construction is to start soon and is expected to be complete by Spring of 2009.