| find your foothills
If you’d like to join our adventure, please subscribe to our newsletter, and like, share, and follow us on social media.
| about us
The Foothills Arts Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, federal tax ID 56-1186347.
The Foothills Arts Center is an organization dedicated to enriching the creative lives of the citizens it serves through immersive arts education and entertainment.
Founded in 1978, the Foothills Arts Council (FAC) was created to develop, promote, and coordinate all forms of the arts in Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin Counties. Today, we serve around 25,000 residents and showcase the talents of artists from the Yadkin River Watershed in our craft gallery. Nestled in the heart of the Yadkin Valley, our home is Elkin, North Carolina, surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge and Brushy Mountains.
In 2021, we secured a purchase agreement to relocate FAC and restore the historic Roth YMCA building at Chatham Mill in Elkin’s downtown district. We are excited to transform this landmark into a vibrant 45,000-square-foot school of visual and performing arts—our beloved Foothills Arts Center.
While our main campus is temporarily closed for renovations, our programs and events continue to thrive at satellite locations and through partnerships with local businesses. We’ve launched new programs in violin-making, clay, and traditional woodworking over the past three years, and we’re collaborating with The Wisdom Table to maintain our exhibition space in the Bacchus Gallery. Additionally, we’ve introduced exciting events like our annual Plein Air Festival, celebrating the natural beauty of our area and attracting artists from across the Southeast. Our affiliate, Foothills Theatre, has also expanded its offerings, producing more than six productions each year.
Join us as we continue to foster creativity and community through the arts!
| learn more
-
| foothills theatre
-
| historic chatham mill
-
| elkin, north carolina
| our organization
-
| studio artists
Dan Butner, Creature Creator
Tory Casey, Narrative Artist
Stacey Griswell, Oil Painter
Anne Gulley, Oil Painter
Tonya Leach, Weaver
Vicky Whelan, Quilter
-
| instructors
Joe Thrift | Violin Making
Jacey Gorman | Clay
Ben Masterson | Traditional Woodworking
Sam Stark | Glass (coming)
-
| affiliates and allies
-
| board of directors
Executive Committee
Marianne Luther | President
MIke Cheek | Vice President
Jay Morphis | Treasurer
Krystle Stamps | Secretary
Board Members
Jill Bellia
Jacey Gorman
Susan Pasch
Tonya Leach
Beth Sumner Wall
Sydney Sieviec
Kim Arnold
-
| administration
Dan Butner, Executive Director
| landmark love
“Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings.” — Jane Jacobs, advocate for community-centered urban development
The historic Gilvin Roth YMCA building has been an impressive point of interest and hub of community activity since its formal dedication in May of 1942. The building was named in honor of the late Gilvin Theodore Roth (1854-1927), a military captain and engineer by profession, who later became the general superintendent and vice president of the Chatham Manufacturing Company.
Construction was made possible through community support and the substantial financial backing of Richard Thurmond Chatham (1896-1957), ranking commander and veteran of World Wars I and II, president of Chatham Manufacturing Company, and North Carolina representative in the US House of Representatives.
The building, a gift to the town of Elkin, was considered “modern and complete in every respect [containing] equipment on par with anything in the country.” The structure was the epitome of sophistication for the era, boasting a gymnasium with stage for performances and social gatherings, an outdoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, a nurses’ station, the public library, a kitchen, and spaces dedicated to meetings.
After public interest and use waned in the 1970’s, the property was leased to various companies and fell into a state of disrepair. Now, as the home of the Foothills Arts Center, restoration is well underway.
If you are interested in helping to preserve this beloved community landmark, please consider GIVING to our annual fund drive.
(Sources: Images of America: Elkin, by Dr. S. Jason Couch; various newspaper articles including information from The Elkin Tribune.)
| image credit | The Elkin Tribune, 1942
| architectural blueprints
| exterior elevation rendering
| visit us
| physical address | 321 East Main Street, Elkin, North Carolina 28621
Our Main Campus at 321 E. Main St. is currently CLOSED for repairs.
Visit our home page to find satellite event and semester offerings.
| mailing address | P.O. Box 24, Elkin, North Carolina 28621
| email address | info@foothillsarts.org