who we are
Our Mission
To enhance the quality of life in Transylvania County by celebrating and nurturing the creative spirit of artists, youth and individuals throughout the County.
We will accomplish this mission by:
Promoting all visual and performing arts in the County
Educating our youth
Educating adults, both locals and visitors
Providing art opportunities for all
Enhancing Economic Development through the arts
Our Vision
To continue to be a vibrant arts destination and resource center that helps other arts organizations and artists with their creative endeavors.
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Kathy’s love for photography began many years ago in the days of film, and evolved as film gave way to digital sensors, and fully manual cameras were replaced by the sophisticated models that are available today. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her joy of teaching kids and adults the basics of digital photography.
Kathy relocated to Brevard in 2013 from Dallas, Texas, where she had practiced law for almost 20 years. While in Dallas, she also worked as a wedding and event photographer. Since relocating to Brevard, Kathy’s photography focus has shifted to portraits and macro photography, and to teaching photography and post-processing classes. She has taught photography at Blue Ridge Community College and English at Brevard College.
Kathy is also the Executive Director of Transylvania Community Arts Council.
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Cindy Rehm resides in Brevard, after a rich and rewarding career in Arts Education and Arts Administration in Connecticut. Cindy served as Supervisor of Art Education K-12 in Simsbury and founded and directed the Simsbury Arts Academy, a thriving vibrant extended day and year arts education program which provides the school districts, and Connecticut area students with year-round opportunities to study music, visual art, and theatre.
Cindy has worked as an arts education consultant, locally, statewide and nationally, in arts educational curriculum and assessment development, including for The Getty Center for Education in the Arts.
Her awards and recognitions include the Connecticut Art Education Association: Distinguished Art Supervisor and Art Educator Awards, and Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award.
She is a mixed media two-dimensional artist creating abstract, floral, landscape and figurative artwork. Cindy is also a member of Arts Council Board of Directors.
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Danielle holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Education with an Emphasis in Literacy and Curriculum. She began her teaching career over 20 years ago in St. Petersburg, Florida, with experience in both public and private schools as well as several grade levels. She was active in her Florida community and helped wherever she could. She was honored to be nominated in Pinellas County for Outstanding Educator of the Year for her commitment to children and families.
In 2017, Danielle decided to leave the classroom and put her skills and knowledge to work homeschooling her daughter, Lila. Today, they are still loving every minute of their homeschooling journey. Lila especially loves the incredible classes and opportunities at the Arts Council!
Danielle grew up with award winning artist parents. Her father is a photographer, and her mother paints beautiful watercolor birds and landscapes. Growing up with artist parents taught Danielle to place a high value on art, creativity, originality and a community that supports the arts.
Danielle is passionate about education and art. She especially loves when the two come together. -
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Musician, educator, composer, and arranger are some of the hats Derrick has worn since childhood.
Derrick is currently the Music Program Director at Brevard Academy and Music Director for The Arts For Christ TAFC Band, which is the band behind all of Alvin Moore's hit stage plays. Derrick has also worked with American Idol contests such as Rueben Studdard (2003 Winner), Orna Jones (2005), Destini Winters (2012).
Since 2000, Derrick has played the IAJE Festival (International Association of Jazz Educators), Umbria Jazz Festival, City Stages Festival (Birmingham), Porretta Soul Festival (Italy), Africa in April Festival (Memphis), Paducah Summer Festival, and the IBFF of Nashville (International Black Film Festival).
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Jack and his wife Mary Scott have lived in the Brevard area since 2003. He serves on the steering committee of the Land of Waterfalls Camera Club and helps coordinate the monthly programs and speakers for that organization. He does presentations, offers individual coaching on the art and craft of photography, has done photographic printing for exhibiting photographers, and is glad to have more time to devote to the craft now that he is retired from corporate life.
His work has been published in Our State North Carolina magazine, Blue Ridge Country magazine, and The Blue Ridge Travel Guide. His work has been exhibited at the Transylvania Community Arts Council and the Hollingsworth Gallery in Brevard, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State in Boone, and at The Biltmore in Asheville. His photographic interests tend toward travel, landscape, architecture, capturing the good light, and photographing people in the act of being themselves.
Jack currently exhibits at Number 7 Arts gallery where he has been a member since 2016, and serves on the board of the Transylvania Community Arts Council. Other experience includes being a special events photographer for the Brevard Music Center, photographing fundraising and other donor events with performing students and distinguished guest performers such as Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell.
Jack is active in a local photo critique group, and is regularly invited to adjudicate work for photo exhibits. While largely self-taught, he took photography and darkroom courses during college and has lifelong experience with film, print, and digital imaging.
Web Gallery: www.jackchristfield.com -
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When “God-taught” artist Billy Smith paints, his brush connects the Divine to the canvas. Born and raised just north of Brevard in Pisgah Forest, Billy, the youngest of six siblings, spent a good amount of his younger days in the woods exploring colors, textures and shapes. Instead of an instructional art book - the flowers, trees, dirt, sky and everything in between inspired him.
Pushed through the typical “school system,” Billy always knew there was more. After multiple adversities, he came to the realization that he could be an artist, as it was innately planted in him.
What started with him sketching local musicians, turned into commissions to create murals around town and then grew into a full-blown art studio instructing Brevard’s youth.
In 2018, Billy learned that he had Type 1 Diabetes, and during his hospital stay after a ketoacidosis coma, he clarified that he is also a filmmaker. He has since produced multiple videos for clients across the board.Billy is also the Fine Arts Director at Destiny Church as well as the President of the Transylvania Community Arts Council.