The Bascom: A Center for Visual Arts

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts creates visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking and doing.

For over 30 years, The Bascom has been a vital cultural resource to the Western North Carolina region. What began in 1983 as a small exhibition space in one room of the Hudson Library now occupies a 6-acre former horse farm near downtown Highlands, NC.

The 28,000 square foot main building house exhibition and event spaces, classrooms, offices, and a retail outlet. The adjacent David Drake Studio contains studio space for pottery and three-dimensional arts instruction and additional retail space. Entrance to the campus is through an early 19th Century, 87-foot-long covered bridge. Along with sizeable terraces, our outdoor spaces include meadows and forest land, streams and trails, unblemished mountain views and sculpture installations.

Opening Hours

Exhibitions & Shop:

Tuesday - Saturday; 10am - 5pm

Ceramics Studio:

Monday - Saturday; 10am - 5pm

Sunday; 12pm/Noon - 5pm