Celebrate the season of giving with a gift that sparks creativity all year long
As we close out the year, we invite you to help keep the arts vibrant in Martinsville-Henry County.
Your year-end gift supports exhibitions, performances, and arts education programs that spark creativity, bring our community together, and open doors for learners of all ages.
With your generosity, Piedmont Arts can continue offering meaningful cultural experiences, from blockbuster exhibitions to world-class performances to hands-on workshops that reach every corner of our community.
Give now and be part of the art that moves our community forward.
If you would like to support Piedmont Arts through a stock exchange or non-cash contribution, click here to learn more.
Thank you for supporting a creative, connected, and inspired Martinsville-Henry County.
Winter Break: Things To Do
Express your creativity in the Discovery Room
The Discovery Room is a vibrant, hands-on space where children of all ages can follow their curiosity and express their creativity. Whether they’re painting, drawing, making music, or putting on a puppet show, every child is invited to explore, imagine, and play in their own way.
The Discovery Room is free and open to the public during business hours.
Exhibits
Peace Post
On view through Jan. 10
The stories that permeate our newsfeeds have become increasingly dark. To shine a light on some of the individuals who stand against injustice and advocate for peace, this project asked artists to create a series of digital stamps featuring portraits of these heroes, one for each sovereign nation. The result is a collection of 198 portraits of peace advocates created by more than 100 artists.
In conjunction with this exhibit, students in the gifted program at Fieldale-Collinsville and Laurel Park middle schools created artwork inspired by the work of peace advocates around the world. Each piece includes a QR code linking to a presentation about the artist’s chosen peace advocate.
Legible Earth: The Fire Tapestries
On view through Jan. 10
Leah Raintree’s work engages the interconnection between humanity, time, and the Earth. This exhibit marks the 10th anniversary of the Valley Fire in Northern California, when Raintree’s sister and her family lost their home to wildfire. Borrowing from the language of ancient tapestries that survive as storytellers, these intricate line drawings are interwoven with washes of wildfire char and address the impacts of wildfire on ecological and human communities.
Depicting the Moment
On view through Jan. 10
Donald Towns is a painter, background animation illustrator, and art director. He finds inspiration in a variety of subjects, such as nature, architecture, and everyday objects. His experience in the motion picture industry has influenced his painting, giving his work the ethereal appearance of animated movie stills.
Inspired Creations
On view through Jan. 10
The Lynwood Artists Gallery features a selection of “inspired creations” by the group’s members.
Lynwood Artists is an organization for practicing artists in the Martinsville-Henry County area. Its members share a desire to stimulate understanding and enjoyment of fine art, while providing artists with opportunities to exhibit and develop their talents.
Foster Gallery
On view through Jan. 10
The Foster Gallery features an exhibit of work by students attending Bassett High School, Carlisle Upper School, Magna Vista High School, and Martinsville High School.
Exhibits in the gallery are curated in partnership with the Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County. A new exhibit is installed every six to eight weeks, allowing work by students from all 19 schools in Martinsville-Henry County to be displayed during the year.
Upcoming Events
Exhibit Opening Reception
5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23, Piedmont Arts
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of its new exhibits from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23, at Piedmont Arts. A gallery talk will be held at 6:15 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Exhibits on view:
• American Watercolor Society 158th Traveling Exhibition
• Act II: Paintings by Gail Doyle Smith
• Works by King’s Grant Residents
This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP with the number and names of the attendees in your party by Wednesday, Jan. 21.
African American Read-In + Family Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, Piedmont Arts
The annual African American Read-In + Family Day will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, at Piedmont Arts.
Griot Fred Motley will entertain with folktales, and the Kuumba West African Dance Company will share traditional folklore through song, music, and dance. Children can create a free craft with members of the Teen Arts Council. The Piedmont Arts Guild will give away door prizes. Snacks will be available. This event is free, and all ages are welcome.
Dancing for the Arts 2026
3 p.m., Saturday, March 14, MHS Auditorium
Dancing for the Arts, the fabulous fundraiser for Piedmont Arts, returns to the stage at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 14, at Martinsville High School Auditorium.
In this dazzling, high-energy dance competition, teams of local celebrities and community leaders compete for a cause — supporting the arts! Your votes support your favorite teams and the arts in Martinsville-Henry County.
Admission tickets are $30 for reserved seating, $20 for general admission and $10 for students in grades K-12.
DFTA teams:
• Katie Adkins + Brandon Johnson
• Shan’Tyia Hairston + Maurice Breedlove
• Tiffanie Hairston + Brian Hairston
• Sarah Hodges + Kasey Lucas
• Elizabeth Huerta + Alfredo Huerta
• Shatera Robertson + Louis Norton
• Margie Price-Savedge + Christopher Janey
• Melissa White + Al Herndon
Mike Wiley: A Game Apart
Thursday, March 26, Piedmont Arts
Actor and playwright Mike Wiley will perform “A Game Apart,” a one-person play about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, on Thursday, March 26, at Piedmont Arts. A reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the performance at 7 p.m. in the galleries.
“A Game Apart” offers a powerful lesson of courage through dedication, perseverance, and leadership. The play provides a glimpse into Robinson’s life during the era of segregated locker rooms, whites-only hotels, and restaurants with only a back door for athletes of color to enter. Witness the struggles of a star player who was celebrated on the field but became a second-class citizen when he walked off the diamond.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students in grades K-12.
Classes
Bob Ross Workshop
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 8
Yoga in the Galleries
10-11 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 10
Yoga in the Galleries (Chair)
10-11 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Chix with Stix
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Second and fourth Tuesdays
