Our History
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In 1976, a few local area artists, art enthusiasts and educators joined
together and created a small arts festival to celebrate the Nation’s Bicentennial. Mostly comprised of local student art and few craft demonstrations, the ‘Blue Ridge Art in the Park’ event was born. Based out of the Blue Ridge City Park and in a community rich with traditional crafts such as quilting, wood turning, and wood carving, the ‘Art in the Park’ event was to showcase local area artist, Appalachian student art work and area crafts. ‘Art in the Park’ was held the following year and provided the inspiration to develop an arts association that would provide cultural and artistic opportunities not only for the local community. After two years of grant writing, community efforts, and support by the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association was established in 1980 and the official charter was signed by over 200 founding members and became the official host of the ‘Arts in the Park’ event. The original signed BRMAA charter is hung proudly and prominently in the Art Center today. |
Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association (BRMAA) was often considered ‘art nomads’ within Fannin County. As the fledgling association moved from
several locations from 1980 through 2004, the BRMAA maintained their mission to provide artistic opportunities for personal growth of the
individual and in 1980 BRMAA formally sponsored the ‘Arts in the Park’ event.
Beginning with just a few small ballet classes, local artist exhibits, and the ‘Arts in the Park’ event, the BRMAA continued to provide accessibility of the arts and artistic culture of the local area. With the help of a talented, dedicated and all-volunteer staff and board they took their programming out into public spaces and offered everything for free. The free summer Concerts in the Park series was started. Local musicians and visiting summer residents were featured. After each performance a hat was passed to raise money to pay for the next performance.
In 1988, BRMAA was awarded the Governor’s Award in the Arts from Georgia Governor Joe Frank Harris. Following this milestone, the awareness and
credibility of the organization were greatly enhanced. In 1992, through the efforts of Speaker David Ralston, then BRMAA Association President, non-profit status was attained and the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association hosted their first exhibit highlighting local fiber artists. The first show was a huge success. That same year, BRMAA hosted a Christmas exhibit that brought in over 65 artists and generated a growth in membership but also a strong demand for arts education in the area.
After completion of the new Fannin County Courthouse in 2004, the Fannin County Board of Commissioners offered the Historical Fannin County Courthouse (circa 1937) to the BRMAA. Over three years and with the generous support of our members, local businesses, grants and local government, BRMAA remodeled the Historical Courthouse. In 2007, BRMAA hosted their first exhibit within the new Art Center and has exhibited over 80+ shows since. The BRMAA Art Center is now a state of the art space that still maintains the historical grace of the original building and showcasing its prevalence within the community.
The BRMAA Art Center currently includes 6 gallery spaces, a dance studio, music room, conference room, art supply store, and business offices.
In 2012, the BRMAA Art Center became home to the Summit Studios. The Summit Studios provides rented studio spaces for working artists while also allowing the public to meet the artists, see them at work, and purchase their local artwork.
The BRMAA now has over 1,000+ members and over 500+ resource artists. BRMAA is home to the Southern Appalachian Artists Guild with 160 members, Blue Ridge Mountains Photography Guild with 75 members, the Poets and Writers’ Club, and the WoodCarvers Club. Over the last three decades BRMAA has enhanced the arts by establishing countless endeavors such as the Blue Ridge Community Theater, Arts and Wildlife Festivals, Paws in the Park, Concerts in the Park, Master Series Art Workshops, Artist in Residence Program, Light Up Blue Ridge Holiday event, Oral History Project of Fannin County, and many more.
Annual events and exhibits include the Community Quilt Exhibit, Youth Art Month, Writers’ Conference, Summer Youth Art Camp, Southern Appalachian
Artists Guild National Juried Show and the Blue Ridge Mountains Photography Guild National Juried Show and continuously growing arts education programming for adults and children to include dance, painting, photography, and even yoga. We have had the honor of hosting the Georgia Watercolor National Exhibit and many other nationally and regionally acclaimed artists of various mediums.
Among the multiple exhibits and events, BRMAA continues to host the popular ‘Arts in the Park’ festival series, now in its 42nd year. ‘Arts in the Park’ has welcomed in 2017 over 180 vendors and an estimated 19,000 attendees. In 2011, the ‘Arts in the Park’ festival demand grew to include a Spring and a Fall festival. The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has continued to provide the local community and area visitors with opportunities in the realm of the arts, accessibility of the arts, and continued support to honor the rich heritage of the North Georgia Mountains. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has
grown exponentially from its humble beginnings in 1976 with the help of countless dedicated individuals and supporters. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts
Association has helped make Blue Ridge, Georgia one of the top 100 Art Towns in the United States.
several locations from 1980 through 2004, the BRMAA maintained their mission to provide artistic opportunities for personal growth of the
individual and in 1980 BRMAA formally sponsored the ‘Arts in the Park’ event.
Beginning with just a few small ballet classes, local artist exhibits, and the ‘Arts in the Park’ event, the BRMAA continued to provide accessibility of the arts and artistic culture of the local area. With the help of a talented, dedicated and all-volunteer staff and board they took their programming out into public spaces and offered everything for free. The free summer Concerts in the Park series was started. Local musicians and visiting summer residents were featured. After each performance a hat was passed to raise money to pay for the next performance.
In 1988, BRMAA was awarded the Governor’s Award in the Arts from Georgia Governor Joe Frank Harris. Following this milestone, the awareness and
credibility of the organization were greatly enhanced. In 1992, through the efforts of Speaker David Ralston, then BRMAA Association President, non-profit status was attained and the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association hosted their first exhibit highlighting local fiber artists. The first show was a huge success. That same year, BRMAA hosted a Christmas exhibit that brought in over 65 artists and generated a growth in membership but also a strong demand for arts education in the area.
After completion of the new Fannin County Courthouse in 2004, the Fannin County Board of Commissioners offered the Historical Fannin County Courthouse (circa 1937) to the BRMAA. Over three years and with the generous support of our members, local businesses, grants and local government, BRMAA remodeled the Historical Courthouse. In 2007, BRMAA hosted their first exhibit within the new Art Center and has exhibited over 80+ shows since. The BRMAA Art Center is now a state of the art space that still maintains the historical grace of the original building and showcasing its prevalence within the community.
The BRMAA Art Center currently includes 6 gallery spaces, a dance studio, music room, conference room, art supply store, and business offices.
In 2012, the BRMAA Art Center became home to the Summit Studios. The Summit Studios provides rented studio spaces for working artists while also allowing the public to meet the artists, see them at work, and purchase their local artwork.
The BRMAA now has over 1,000+ members and over 500+ resource artists. BRMAA is home to the Southern Appalachian Artists Guild with 160 members, Blue Ridge Mountains Photography Guild with 75 members, the Poets and Writers’ Club, and the WoodCarvers Club. Over the last three decades BRMAA has enhanced the arts by establishing countless endeavors such as the Blue Ridge Community Theater, Arts and Wildlife Festivals, Paws in the Park, Concerts in the Park, Master Series Art Workshops, Artist in Residence Program, Light Up Blue Ridge Holiday event, Oral History Project of Fannin County, and many more.
Annual events and exhibits include the Community Quilt Exhibit, Youth Art Month, Writers’ Conference, Summer Youth Art Camp, Southern Appalachian
Artists Guild National Juried Show and the Blue Ridge Mountains Photography Guild National Juried Show and continuously growing arts education programming for adults and children to include dance, painting, photography, and even yoga. We have had the honor of hosting the Georgia Watercolor National Exhibit and many other nationally and regionally acclaimed artists of various mediums.
Among the multiple exhibits and events, BRMAA continues to host the popular ‘Arts in the Park’ festival series, now in its 42nd year. ‘Arts in the Park’ has welcomed in 2017 over 180 vendors and an estimated 19,000 attendees. In 2011, the ‘Arts in the Park’ festival demand grew to include a Spring and a Fall festival. The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has continued to provide the local community and area visitors with opportunities in the realm of the arts, accessibility of the arts, and continued support to honor the rich heritage of the North Georgia Mountains. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has
grown exponentially from its humble beginnings in 1976 with the help of countless dedicated individuals and supporters. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts
Association has helped make Blue Ridge, Georgia one of the top 100 Art Towns in the United States.
