By Age Group
The Bascom is working towards creating a more integrated and user-friendly experience for our visitors. Please read the following information to familiarize yourself with the process.
How does it work?
Whenever you register for a class or workshop online, you'll be prompted to create a user account during the registration process. The information you provide there can then be used to log in here.
- Register for a Workshop
- Create your username and password during the registration process
- Check your email (Don't see it in your inbox? Check your junk/spam folder and mark it as not junk/spam)
- Click on the activation link in the email and... Voila! You're good to go!
Loosen up your Painting Style
Learn practical techniques to achieve a more painterly, expressive style. Through demonstrations, exercises, and a "paint along," explore methods to loosen up your approach. Apply these skills to create a fresh interpretation of one of your own past paintings. Suitable for oils or acrylics.
Youth Homeschool Pottery: Bowls Bowls Bowls
Learn to make bowls all kinds of ways and help us get ready for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser. Students will make some bowls to keep and some to donate.
Class meets:
August 13, 20, 27
Ages:
5-18
Youth Afterschool Pottery - Bowls Bowls Bowls
Learn to make bowls all kinds of ways and help us get ready for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser. Students will make some bowls to keep and some to donate.
Class meets:
August 14, 21, 28
Ages:
5-18
Artist Talk with William Rodriguez
Join us for an artist talk with William Rodriguez.
A Sound and Clay Immersion
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Combine water, earth, air, and fire to create your own personal sound mask. Let your creativity be expressed through the medium of clay, creating your own unique mask which includes an sound making component. Learn various techniques to create clay instruments such as whistles and rattles to integrate into your mask. Learn about cultural mask styles and symbols and how to make simple clay instruments during this extensive weekend workshop. |
Artist talk with TJ Erdahl & Beau Raymond
Please join us for an artist talk with ceramics artists TJ Erdahl and Beau Raymond.
Surface Alchemy: Dynamic Surfaces & Vibrant Finishes
Join ceramic sculptors Thaddeus Erdahl and Beau Raymond for a hands-on workshop exploring dynamic glazes, slips, and finishes. Learn to layer vibrant colors, carve and sand surfaces, and apply polychromatic cold finishes to bring your ceramic work to life. Open to all skill levels, this workshop offers expert guidance and experimentation, leaving you with custom test tiles and new techniques to inspire your future projects.
Class Schedule: 9 AM–Noon & 1 PM–4 PM
Floral Application
In this class you will learn to create realistic flowers in clay to adorn wall pocket vases. In addition to the wall pockets, each student will receive one thrown greenware vase to decorate using the techniques discussed.
Class Schedule: 10 AM–Noon
15th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival
Itinerary of Events
Fall Reception
September 4th | 5 pm
Kick off the festival weekend at The Bascom’s Fall Reception! This special evening will celebrate our fall exhibitions, the Dazzling Dahlia Festival, and the winner of the 2025 Dahlia Poster Contest.
Enter the poster contest!
The Single Bloom Competition
September 5th & 6th
The 15th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival's Single Bloom Competition will be held Friday, September 5, from 1:30 pm - 4 pm, and Saturday, September 6, from 10 am - 4 pm at The Bascom. Dahlia enthusiasts will showcase their most stunning blooms in this beloved annual event.
Petals and Perspectives
September 4 - 6
Experience an inspired dialogue between art and nature at this year’s Dahlia Festival with Petals and Perspectives, a distinctive floral design showcase. This special event invites selected area non-profit organizations to create floral arrangements in direct response to works of art on view in The Bascom’s galleries, offering a compelling exploration of the connections between the visual and floral arts.
The Dahlia Dialogue
September 6 | 11 am
Learn about dahlias and the art of growing from an expert guest speaker.
Studio Member Pottery Show
September 5th & 6th
Bascom Studio Members will present a curated collection of handcrafted wall pockets and vases, each adorned with fresh dahlias and available for purchase during the dahlia festival. Be sure to visit the Studio Barn for a chance to take home a unique, functional piece of art!
Let’s Fire it Up!!!
In this five-day, hands-on workshop, participants will explore cone 10 gas reduction, cone 10 soda, and cone 6 electric firings. Learn practical and aesthetic techniques for loading and firing kilns, test studio glazes, and experiment with new glaze recipes. Led by Frank Vickery and Gay Smith, the workshop covers throwing bulbous forms, altering surfaces, and improving foundational throwing skills. Students should bring 10-20 bisque pieces suitable for each firing type.
Perfect for potters of all levels looking to refine their techniques and deepen their understanding of kiln firings.
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Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)
Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)
This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at NCArts.org
Funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at SouthArts.org.
Funding is due in part to a Tourism Grant with Visit Highlands, NC. Learn more HighlandsChamber.org