Welcome! Southwest Virginia Community College
The festival logo was designed by SWCC student Rachel Bowman, assisted by Assistant Professor Mike Brown. The design was drawn in free hand by Bowman and depicts the diverse styles of dance that portray the festival theme.
presents the 2017 Festival of the Arts.
The 2017 festival will celebrate its 23rd year with the theme The Diversity of Dance: Its Styles, Rhythms and Music.
We hope you join us this year for another exciting festival! Mary
See the Festival Schedule of Performances
Since 1995, many countries of the world, including our very own Appalachian Region of the United States, have been the focus of the festival.
Our returning artists each year include Camerata Virtuosi New York (pictured) Learn more about our artists and sponsors and make plans now to join us!
The Festival began in 1995 with Spotlight on America-From Sea to Shining Sea!
Since that inaugural year, the countries of Germany, Italy, Austria, England, Russia, the Appalachian Region of the United States and France and others have been visited through the Festival. The mission of the Festival is to provide an in-depth exploration of the cultural riches of countries and cultures around the world to create a better understanding of those nations and cultures. The two-week long Festival consists of numerous musical performances, including vocal, instrumental and solo presentations. Dance, theatre, literature, visual arts and film are other areas of exploration.
Students from the theatre and music departments at Southwest participate, as well as community singers in the SWCC Community Chorus. SWCC art students design the Festival logo each year and prepare art exhibits that reflect the artistic heritage of the country in the spotlight. Workshops are conducted by visiting artists and a Spotlight event is held each year to showcase student talent.
Festival Themes Through the Years
Nationally and Internationally Acclaimed Artists
Most performances are presented by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, among them:
pianists Pavlina Dokovska, ; violinists Yuri Vodovoz and Rob Taylor; violist Ariel Rudiakov; cellist Diliana Momtchilova; flutist Massimo Mercelli; sopranos Stefka Evastieva and Karen Bureau; the Kandinsky Trio and Garth Newel Chamber Players; Walt Michael and Company and Madeline MacNeil, dulcimer.
Special Guests
Special guests have been actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Dr. Gottfried Wagner, musicologist; Chandler Cowles and Henry Taylor, Pulitzer Prize winners; Dr. Gideon Waldrop, former Dean of the Juilliard School of Music and President of the Manhattan School of Music; composer David Tcimpidis; writers Lee Smith and Sharyn McCrumb.
Venue for many performances:
Southwest Virginia Community College
King Community Center
295 Community College Road
Dellinger Hall
965 Community College Road
Visit these sites for more information about the region:
Have Questions? 
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Admissions: 276.964.7238; Fax: 276.964.7716