ABOUT

About the Turchin Center in Boone, North Carolina
Board Tour

History

Appalachian State University’s long-held dream of establishing a regional center for the visual arts became a reality in the spring of 2003, when the cultural landscape of the university and its surrounding region was transformed, as great works of art– as well as the artists who create them– found a home within the galleries, education and outreach spaces, and outdoor areas of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. In 2008, an east wing addition was completed. The Turchin Center now features two wings of exhibition and support space, as well as the Arnold P. Rosen Family Education Wing.

Named for university benefactors Robert and Lillian Turchin, the historic King Street building in downtown Boone, formerly home to the Boone United Methodist Church, became the largest visual arts center in northwestern North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia. To realize its vision, the university joined hands with the surrounding region to create a dynamic space where community groups and students of all ages can experience the power and excitement of the visual arts.

Now more than ever, the challenges of the future will require great minds; and that means thinking creatively as well as critically. The Turchin Center is a dynamic, living, breathing presence in the Appalachian community. The center has been nationally recognized by organizations such as The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, that has supported the center through exhibition grants and through a gift of artworks by the foundation. Building upon its early successes, the center is poised to move forward in making a difference for many years to come within the campus and community through the visual arts.

Since opening in 2003, the center has built upon Appalachian’s longstanding belief that access and interaction with arts programming is an important part of a great university education. This is supported by the belief that sharing these opportunities with residents and visitors is important service to the cultural, educational, economic, and healthful life of our community and region. To provide increased accessibility for the Appalachian community, the center is free and open to the public.

Stair mural
Stair mural

Programming

Access to Arts

Key to the Turchin Center’s mission is its policy of offering free admission. The center’s exhibits focus on contemporary art, and feature work by nationally and internationally renowned artists, as well as many of the finest artists of the region.

Exhibitions and Programs

The center presents a challenging and exciting schedule of year-round exhibitions, providing a diverse look at the visual arts and inviting visitors to expand their perspectives through creative and critical thinking. A focus on arts education contextualizes exhibition programs through study guides, which are available for each featured exhibition. Lectures by exhibiting artists are scheduled throughout the year, and tours for university students, students in grades K-12, and community groups are scheduled upon request.

Community Outreach

The center’s dynamic outreach programs encompass workshops in art forms such as painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, and collage, among other areas—and are offered for participants of all ages and skill levels. Outreach activities designed to engage underserved groups are offered at the center, and a colorful outreach van travels to all areas across the region, bringing visual arts activities to schools, libraries, community centers and public parks. Rather than a “marble-floored museum” devoted to solely to the viewing of art, the Turchin Center is a living, breathing presence in the community, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to directly participate in the visual arts.

 

Location

The center’s strategic location on King Street– in the heart of downtown Boone, yet within the physical boundaries of the campus— places it at the “crossroads” between campus and community, creating a multitude of opportunities for meaningful campus and community partnerships. The physical design of the center enables passers-by to view exhibits, and creates a welcoming, accessible presence for community members and visitors along the main artery of downtown Boone, as well as for university students, faculty and staff. On the first Friday of the month, the Turchin Center joins with other galleries and art spaces to present the Downtown Boone Art Crawl, by opening its doors for members of the campus community and surrounding region to enjoy the exhibitions and learn more about the various programs offered by the Turchin Center.

Support

The Turchin Center is housed in the division of the Office of Arts Engagement which reports to the Office of the Chancellor. The university has a long history of recognizing the importance of and supporting the arts, but is also reliant on strong community support—through participation and philanthropy. Private gifts ensure that the important work of the Turchin Center will continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.

Employment Opportunities

 

The Turchin Center is part of Appalachian State University and all current listing of available positions for non-students can be viewed by visiting Appalachian State University’s Employment website. App students can access open positions through Handshake.

Full-Time Employment Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. Opportunities for positions within the center will be listed here when available.

Student Employment Opportunities

Be part of a dynamic contemporary visual arts center! The Turchin Center offers several part-time employment opportunities for students that support Appalachian’s commitment to academic integrity by providing:

  • Individualized, hands-on training in a real-world setting
  • Leadership roles on integrated projects with visual arts programming
  • Career enhancement through training opportunities and mentoring
  • Opportunities for internships, volunteering, research, and special projects; and
  • Valuable interaction with contemporary artists.

Internship Opportunities for Students:

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts offers paid curatorial internships to students in the spring and summer semesters.

Curatorial internships provide students with opportunities to assist the curator, lead preparator, and collections manager gaining hands-on experience learning how to care for and professionally handle artwork in all media by assisting with the packing and unpacking of artwork, assisting with art installations and de-installations in the Center’s six changing exhibit galleries and elsewhere on campus, working during exhibition openings and other public events, assisting with various administrative tasks, as well as other opportunities that come up during the internship to work directly with visiting artists.

Students from across campus are invited to apply for an internship in the curatorial department by submitting a letter of interest and a professional CV to Mary Anne Redding, curator at reddingm@appstate.edu.

Specific interests for the internship should be addressed in the letter. All requests for special projects will be discussed with the appropriate staff member and agreed to in writing before the start of the internship. Projects may develop and alter slightly during the course of the internship.

Letters of interest are accepted in April for summer internships. Students will be responsible for working with their academic advisor to sign a university internship contract for academic credit that outlines the terms of the internship and hours necessary for the successful completion of the internship. All students receive $12.00/hour for hours worked during the internship.

Part-Time Employment for Students

Gallery Ambassadors: The Turchin Center accepts applications from App State students on a rolling basis.

The Gallery Ambassador position acts as a helpful liaison to all guests and visitors of the Turchin Center and is responsible for ensuring safety of the art and of visitors to the center. Ideal candidates must have excellent customer service skills and be able to work well with a team, as well as have an interest in the arts and art galleries. Applicants must be available to work at least 10 hours per week.

Open to ASU students via “Handshake.”

For questions regarding student gallery ambassador employment, please contact Karen Trefz, trefzkr@appstate.edu.

Workshop Instructors: The Turchin Center hires App State students to lead a variety of workshops that offer art-making to Appalachian State University students (Paint Night and Open Studio) and children from the community (Blazing Easels).

Opportunities for positions as workshop instructors will be listed here as they become available.

For questions regarding student workshop employment, please contact Christy Chenausky, Director of Education and Outreach, at: chenauskyc@appstate.edu.

 

Facility Rental & Usage

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts offers a unique setting for special events and programs and makes its facilities available on a limited basis, for groups with an interest in exposing and familiarizing their guests with the TCVA space, as well as the exhibition programming offered by the center. 

For additional information: Download Rental Usage Policies here.

For questions please contact the Turchin Center: 828.262.3017.