The Arts Center, Randolph County Community Arts Council, Inc. — Attraction in Elkins

This review is for artists: this organization isn’t great to work with. It was actually fairly complicated and expensive to apply for shows, with a whole portal set up that you had to make an account for and input unnecessary details. This isn’t that unusual for art galleries, but in West Virginia and for being in a somewhat quiet part of the state, you expect a more relaxed and easy organization, and can find other spaces that would love to show your art and be easier and sometimes free to work with. I assumed the application price would mean the Arts Center is a decently sized organization and be really quick and responsive to work with, but that is incorrect, as acceptance into the show was only notified a couple weeks before the actual show date, and we were only given 2 days (both Mondays) to drop off work. Thankfully I’m in the area and was no big deal to come by on a Monday in the 5 hour window they provided, but I then had to wait 40 minutes for someone to get back and open in the middle of the drop-off window, and there’s no way I arrived the exact minute the staff person left. For pick up, I had hunted several times for the date of pickup both in their emails and website, and could find nothing on it. They emailed about the pickup window, which was only 2 hours in the middle of the day on a weekday, near halfway through that time window.

I know this place does good work with the community and providing arts opportunities for a range of audiences, and the staff member I spoke to seemed nice and welcoming in our minute interaction.

Edit: I was called not long after leaving my review by the staff member, who was able to offer explanations and assuage concerns and was open to feedback. For future artist participants I'd recommend establishing email correspondance with them and feel free to email out for scheduled drop off/pick up as needed, as they are receptive to...

I love the Randolph County Community Arts Center and I think it's a great asset to the area. It gives local artists a place to teach and display their work and brings in artist from all over to present their work for the community to enjoy. It offers lots of free activities like the brown bag concert series and paid activities like the annual Gala and Bowl Fest to raise funds to keep the center going. If you're in town and have time I highly encourage you to stope by and see whatever exhibit...

The Arts Center is a community treasure. I am the principal of a small school in the area and have relied on Dani and the Arts Center to give my students the opportunity to both participate in and enjoy fine arts experiences that otherwise would be unavailable in our little town. My students have had their art on public display at the center, they have attended classes there, enjoyed concerts...the list goes on. We are very appreciative and blessed to have this resource for our kids. I...