Community Calendar

Arts Council of the Valley invites you to join in the arts-focused fun on the First Friday* of EVERY month! Throughout Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, 38 venues offer a variety of new art exhibitions, live performances, poetry, comedy, music, artmaking activities, food, and so much more. You can find a list of venues, online map, and details for all First Fridays of the Valley events – all updated monthly – at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/! Thanks to Kathy Moran Wealth Group, Exclusive Sponsor for 2025 First Fridays of the Valley.

*In 2025, July's "First Friday" arts programming will be held on THURSDAY, July 3 (NOT JULY 4)

Come Out for First Friday at the Co-op!

Join the co-op on Friday, September 5th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for the art opening of Around the Valley, a stunning photography exhibition by local artist, Bruce Stambaugh.

This collection features captivating landscapes, vibrant flowers, and breathtaking sunsets—all captured in and around the Shenandoah Valley. Each photograph offers a unique perspective on the region’s natural beauty, inviting you to slow down, look closer, and appreciate the wonders right in our backyard.

Stop by the café on Friday evening to meet the artist, view their work, and enjoy light refreshments from the store!

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents: Sweet Treats: Drawing Candy Wrappers in Colored Pencil-Adult Class with Rainbow Willard. Shiny, crinkly, colorful - candy wrappers are full of artistic potential! In this vibrant drawing workshop, students will learn how to capture the sparkle, texture, and color of candy packaging using professional quality colored pencils. Working from curated reference photos provided by the instructor, students will explore realistic drawing techniques like layering, blending, and highlighting to make their artwork pop off the page. This class is designed for students with prior drawing experience who want to push their skills while having a little fun along the way. All materials are included- just bring your sweet tooth for color! Rainbow Willard is a practicing artist and art educator with a BFA in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has experience teaching all ages and specializes in drawing, painting, mixed media, and printmaking. Rainbow creates a welcoming, encouraging space where students can build confidence, explore new techniques, and make art that feels personal and fun. Tuesdays July 8, 15, 22, and 29, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., $250, 416 W. Main St. Waynesboro, Va. 22980, register https://www.rainbowwillard.com/shop )

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents: Printing Bee, a collaborative work session designed for a small group of printmakers to come together, share ideas, and provide creative support to one another. It takes place in the print studio on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with the possibility of extending the session if there's no afternoon class scheduled. Due to limited printing space, attendance and press reservations are managed on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your spot or inquire about availability, please contact Joan Menard by texting 304-646-0297. (Wednesdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30).

Thursday’s Painting Group is a meeting of artists who want to paint! Artists bring their own supplies and gather at SVAC on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at no cost to participants. Take advantage of your fellow painters for inspiration and light critique if you are interested. Come relax, share ideas or techniques, and independently work in the medium of your choice! Please call Shenandoah Valley Art Center if you are interested in joining and reserving a space! (540-949-7662, July 3,10, 17, 24, 31, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro 22980)

In the SVAC Member’s Gallery the theme is “Blue.” The members will present their unique interpretations of the theme in each work of art which is priced to accommodate art collectors seeking pieces to expand their collection. The public is invited to view the exhibition, remembering that the art center serves the community by recognizing talent, encouraging creativity, and joining lives through art! Exhibition opening is August 2, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and will be open to the public August 2 – 30, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 126 S. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro 22980.

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of July, is exhibiting the artwork of Group 6. This exhibit presents recent work by its six members who are established artists living and working in Virginia, women who meet regularly to show, discuss and critique their work. Primarily known as painters, some in the group also create in collage, vitreous enamel, clay, photography and printmaking. Their work is shaped by an interest in abstraction and a commitment to process and creative inquiry. By choice or necessity, Group 6 artists spend most of their working time alone in the studio, so it’s particularly valuable to gather as a group to exchange ideas and information, provide analysis, offer challenges and encouragement, and build friendships. All group members have studied and /or taught at Beverley Street Studio School in Staunton, and for the past several years the group has met with guest advisors Ron Boehmer and Nan Covert. Members participate in solo and group exhibits nationally and regionally, and their work can be found in public, corporate, and private collections in the United States and abroad. The exhibition Opening is July 12, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and an ART Talk with Group 6 is August 13, 2:00 p.m. Come meet Lindsay Freedman, Janly Jaggard, June Jordan, Joan Ranzini, Krista Townsend, and Christine Watts. The exhibit is open to the public: July 12 - August – 30, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 416 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

Thursday’s Painting Group is a meeting of artists who want to paint! Artists bring their own supplies and gather at SVAC on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at no cost to participants. Take advantage of your fellow painters for inspiration and light critique if you are interested. Come relax, share ideas or techniques, and independently work in the medium of your choice! Please call Shenandoah Valley Art Center if you are interested in joining and reserving a space! (540-949-7662, July 3,10, 17, 24, 31, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro 22980)

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of July, is exhibiting the artwork of Group 6. This exhibit presents recent work by its six members who are established artists living and working in Virginia, women who meet regularly to show, discuss and critique their work. Primarily known as painters, some in the group also create in collage, vitreous enamel, clay, photography and printmaking. Their work is shaped by an interest in abstraction and a commitment to process and creative inquiry. By choice or necessity, Group 6 artists spend most of their working time alone in the studio, so it’s particularly valuable to gather as a group to exchange ideas and information, provide analysis, offer challenges and encouragement, and build friendships. All group members have studied and /or taught at Beverley Street Studio School in Staunton, and for the past several years the group has met with guest advisors Ron Boehmer and Nan Covert. Members participate in solo and group exhibits nationally and regionally, and their work can be found in public, corporate, and private collections in the United States and abroad. The exhibition Opening is July 12, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and an ART Talk with Group 6 is August 13, 2:00 p.m. Come meet Lindsay Freedman, Janly Jaggard, June Jordan, Joan Ranzini, Krista Townsend, and Christine Watts. The exhibit is open to the public: July 12 - August – 30, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 416 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

In the SVAC Member’s Gallery the theme is “Blue.” The members will present their unique interpretations of the theme in each work of art which is priced to accommodate art collectors seeking pieces to expand their collection. The public is invited to view the exhibition, remembering that the art center serves the community by recognizing talent, encouraging creativity, and joining lives through art! Exhibition opening is August 2, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and will be open to the public August 2 – 30, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 126 S. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro 22980.