Promenade of the Arts - Northeast Georgia

Promenade of the Arts – Mountain City

I have known Steve White for about 10 years. About 5- 6 years ago he bought an old warehouse in Mountain City.  I asked him at that time what he was going to do with it, he said “darned if I know but it’s too big to pass up; there’s got to be a bunch of things; have you got any ideas?”

Well Steve and his artist wife Barbie along with artist Holly Watts have collaborated to finally find a use for the old warehouse. It is now the Promenade of the Arts – the artistic and cultural home for artists and performers in the Blue Ridge Region of North Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  It is big, very big.  With over 8000 square feet on Highway 441 in Mountain City, artists and performers celebrate many expressions of art, all under one roof in this one-of-a-kind destination. 

If you have not been to visit the Promenade you need to go.  As you enter the Promenade you will be greeted by an old world art village, with individual store fronts on two levels. You will also notice a full stage, and a central food and concession area. It is all lit-up like a village out of a Dickens’s Novel.  Light glows from shop windows, store fronts have old fashioned porch lights and miniature lights dangle joy from the rafters.

Fine art already spills from the occupied shops. You discover not only fine art, represented in the mediums of watercolors, oils, pen and ink and pastels, but also fine artisan crafts such as pottery, jewelry and kudzu art!  The Promenade artists will offer art classes throughout the winter including pottery, photography, painting, drawing and more. There is also a kiln onsite. When the Promenade is completed there will be over 30 booths. The price to rent a booth depends on its size and many artists share booths.

Then there are also performing arts. Resident and guest performing artists present concerts and dramatic performances on the Promenade’s stage. An in-house theatrical troupe, The Promenade Players, is constantly in production of new presentations. 

Have you got musical talent?  Ty Alexander, former orchestra leader for Andy Williams, is conducting the Blue Ridge Orchestra, now with over 30 members. Practice is every other Thursday Night at the Promenade. In additional to the orchestra and theater group, the stage at the Promenade will feature local and regional musicians and songwriters.  Next summer they plan to add camps for dance, music, theater and set building. On event night local restaurants will be given the opportunity to use the snack bar to cater and sell food. Steve said the price for music events will depend on the artists that come, but the important part is to offer a wonderful venue to grow local and regional talent.

Barbie added that our Mission with the Promenade is to further our community's cultural enjoyment and love of creativity by providing a venue for artistic expression in a relaxed setting, embracing and promoting the works and skills of local craftsmen and artists of all trades.

We are excited by the addition of the Promenade to our list of art destinations in the North Georgia Mountains. We are especially thrilled with the prospects of the stage and how it will offer a venue for music and the performaning arts. This will only add to our community’s entertainment value for both locals and for tourists. We offer our thanks to those that are putting their efforts into making the Promenade of the Arts a success.

Promenade of the Arts; Hwy 441 South, Mountain City, GA, 30562 (Just behind the new Dollar General Store); Fri - Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sun: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  For information call: 706-982-4305.

Georgia Bed and Breakfast

 http://www.beechwoodinn.ws