Courses, workshops, and travel programs designed for ages 18 and up.
Our schedule is updated often. Please check back to see what’s new!
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]
All Courses
Sip ‘n Paint
with Matt Dorado
Friday, August 7; 6:30–8:30pm
The Bower, 248 Cabot Street
Fee: $52 (everything is included: supplies and adult beverages)
Unwind, create, and connect in the heart of downtown.
Kick off your weekend early with creativity! Join our community for a casual, engaging evening of painting set to a chill, lo-fi lounge soundtrack. Hosted in our beautiful studio space—conveniently located right downtown at The Bower—this event blends the relaxed atmosphere of a night out with high-quality, friendly art instruction.
You’ll create your own acrylic masterpiece on canvas, guided by a professional art instructor who will offer tips, techniques, and plenty of encouragement. Whether you are an absolute beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, this evening is designed to help you relax, unplug, and find your creative flow.
Registration Includes:
- 2 hours of studio time and painting instruction
- All painting supplies (stretched canvas, acrylic paints, brushes)- Have your own? Feel free to bring them!
- Complimentary beverages (wine, beer, soda, and water)
Come for the art, stay for the atmosphere, and leave with your own finished masterpiece!
Note: Participants must be 21+ to consume alcoholic beverages. Space is limited, so early registration is highly recommended!
Painting Party at Hardie
with Matt Dorado
Saturday, August 8; Noon – 4pm
Outside the Hardie Building, 23 Essex Street
Fee: $65
Celebrate four centuries of Beverly’s history, culture, and community with a special afternoon of outdoor painting! Join us on our checkerboard at the historic Hardie Building for a festive, plein air (outdoor) watercolor session. Located right in the heart of the downtown festivities, this is the perfect way to soak up the sun, enjoy the city’s birthday energy, and capture the beauty of our historic neighborhood on paper.
Whether you are a seasoned painter or haven’t touched a watercolor palette since elementary school, this style of event is completely open and welcoming to everyone. Our instructor will be on hand to guide you through basic watercolor techniques, helping you paint your own souvenir of this landmark day.
Bring a partner, a partner-in-crime, a family member, or just your fabulous self—let’s paint the town (literally)!
What’s Included:
- A front-row seat to Beverly’s 400th Anniversary celebrations!
- All watercolor supplies (high-quality paper, paints, brushes, and clipboards)
- Friendly guidance and tips from a professional local artist
Botanical Wire Sculpture Workshop
with Jen Boisvert
Saturday, August 8; Noon–4:30pm
Outside the Hardie Building, 23 Essex Street
Fee: $95
At this one-day workshop, artists will work outdoors at our Hardie Campus location, steps away from the Beverly Common. The theme will be “all things botanical.” You will use wire and a variety of pliers to twist, cut, and create flowers, leaves, vines, and more. You will be given a demonstration on binding and tool techniques. Wire, tools, and on-site inspiration are included. Adjacent to our class site, the city of Beverly will be hosting their 400th year celebration as the “Garden City” (there will be booths, flowers, and a wide array of inspirations) to create your own floral sculptures using wire while outdoors.
Advance registration recommended as there is limited capacity for this workshop.
Day of event registration available pending whether any open spots remain on the day.
Notes for participants: wear weather appropriate attire, bring sunscreen, a hat, or rain gear, a camera to document your art, a water bottle/ bag lunch (water provided- available in Hardie)
Sip ‘n Sketch
with Matt Dorado
Thursday, August 20; 6:30–8:30pm
The Bower, 248 Cabot Street
Fee: $32 (everything is included: supplies and adult beverages)
Give your week a creative reset! Join our community for a casual, relaxing evening of sketching set to a warm, jazz and coffeehouse soundtrack. Hosted in our beautiful studio space—conveniently located right downtown—this event blends the cozy atmosphere of a local cafe with high-quality, friendly art instruction.
You’ll explore the fundamentals of drawing, working with graphite, charcoal, and paper. Our professional instructor, Matt Dorado, will be on hand to guide you offering tips on shading, perspective, and finding your line. Whether you haven’t drawn since grade school or sketch every day, this evening is all about enjoying the process, not worrying about perfection.
Registration Includes:
- 2 hours of studio time and guided sketching instruction
- All drawing supplies (sketchpads, charcoal, pencils, and erasers)
- Complimentary beverages (wine, beer, soda, and water)
Come for the art, stay for the atmosphere, and leave with a sketchpad full of your own unique creations!
Note: Participants must be 21+ to consume alcoholic beverages. Space is limited, so early registration is highly recommended!
Travel with Montserrat: Appalachia Reimagined
A Creative Journey Through Art, Storytelling, Roots Music, and Mountain Foodways
- When: October 1–6, 2026
- Instructor: Angela Glover
- Tour Guide: Erin Healey (Former Appalachian resident & regional heritage professional)
- Cost: TBA
- Details & Itinerary Requests: Contact Erin Healey at [email protected]
Overview: Craft, Legacy, and Preservation
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” — John Muir
This journey is specifically designed as a meaningful exploration of where we came from and how our cultural roots have evolved.
While many associate Appalachia primarily with economic grit, the region actually holds a deep, centuries-old history of fine craft, storytelling, and historic preservation. Instead of a standard vacation, this itinerary frames the journey around legacy and craftsmanship.
The “luxury of yesterday” in the Blue Ridge Mountains wasn’t about diamonds and pearls—it was about Gilded Age industrial titans escaping the summer heat to build handcrafted stone estates while investing in environmental preservation and traditional craft guilds. It is an intellectual and artistic wealth that endures today.
Key Destinations & Itinerary Highlights
Blowing Rock, NC: The Moses Cone Estate & BRAHM
Nestled in the Blue Ridge, Blowing Rock has been a historic mountain retreat for over a century—frequently described to North Shore locals as the “Rockport or Newburyport of the Mountains” for its fine dining, high-end galleries, and historic charm.
Flat Top Manor at the Moses Cone Estate: Built by a Gilded Age textile pioneer, this estate now houses the Southern Highland Craft Guild, demonstrating how historic conservation directly protects master-level traditional crafts.
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM): Located in the heart of town, BRAHM’s mission is to preserve the creative culture of Appalachia. This stunning community museum offers travelers an intimate look at how regional heritage directly informs modern visual arts, complete with active artists-in-residence.
Culinary Heritage: Boone & Blowing Rock
Selected stops at iconic regional landmarks—including The Gamekeeper, Over Yonder, and The Speckled Trout—highlight regional foodways preservation. These kitchens take rugged, traditional Appalachian ingredients (like wild ramps, mountain trout, and foraged goods) and honor them through refined, high-quality culinary execution.
The Penland School of Craft
Founded in the early 20th century by Lucy Morgan, Penland began with a fierce mission: providing local Appalachian women with economic independence through fireside weaving and traditional crafts. Today, it has evolved into one of the largest and most prestigious concentrations of professional craft artists in the world. Representing the pinnacle of contemporary glass, ceramic, wood, and textile arts, Penland is a bucket-list destination for serious art collectors.
The Barter Theatre & Kings Mountain
Officially designated as the State Theatre of Virginia, this historic venue opened during the Great Depression, famously allowing patrons to barter local produce for tickets (“With ham hitting the counter, the curtain went up”).
Beyond launching legendary stars like Gregory Peck, the theatre features a cornerstone production commissioned specifically for America’s 250th Anniversary: a play centered on the Battle of Kings Mountain. Known as the pivotal turning point of the Revolutionary War in the South, the production captures the region’s fierce, independent spirit while highlighting the historical ties between the Southern campaign and the Massachusetts regiments that helped turn the tide of war.
Living Musical Preservation: The Carter Family Fold & The Bing Brothers
To understand the bedrock of American music, we must look directly at its Appalachian roots:
The Carter Family Fold: Located at the cradle of traditional mountain music—the bedrock of modern country music—this historic stage hosted Johnny Cash’s final, deeply emotional public performance in 2003. It stands as the ancestral home of the Carter family, where classic American string traditions were born.
The Bing Brothers featuring Jake Krack: To anchor this history to the present, travelers will experience a performance by masters of West Virginia old-time string music. Mentored by traditional mountain masters, champion fiddler Jake Krack represents the vital, multi-generational passing of the torch—offering our group a true masterclass in living cultural preservation.
Jonesborough, TN: The International Storytelling Center
As Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough is the birthplace of the modern storytelling revival. The National Storytelling Festival held here single-handedly revitalized oral traditions in America, transforming regional folklore into narrative frameworks that directly influence today’s media and podcasting industries.
Built on authentic respect for Appalachian history, this journey offers travelers an unforgettable look at how deep regional traditions continue to shape today’s modern creative landscape.
