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October 21, 2026 Gaston Draws Open Call Sessions Learn More Gaston County Museum Venue Info 131 W Main St, Dallas, NC 28034, USA 1:00 PM Time: - 3:00 PM 704-922-7681 Gaston Draws: The Figure Series Join us for free figure drawing sessions in 2026! Museum Launching Free Figure Drawing Series *Image courtesy of artist Lisa Livengood, 2025 Dallas, NC – The Gaston County Museum of Art & History is hosting a year-long series of live-model figure drawing sessions starting Wednesday, January 7, in the Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station, 205 W. Main St., Dallas. “Gaston Draws: The Figure Series” is made possible by a grant from the Gaston Arts Council, with support from the North Carolina Arts Council. Sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is required for each session, below: Adult Session Open Call Portrait Session “Figure drawing spans the entire history of humanity beginning with the earliest cave drawings in the Paleolithic era and becoming the foundation of artistic training in the Renaissance,” says Alexandrea Pizza, director of the Art & History Museum. “Some of the world’s most cherished works of art, such as Leonardo’s “Mona Lisa” and Michaelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” on the Sistine Chapel ceiling were born from years of the artists’ studying the human form through figure drawing, painting, and sculpting. Today, artists continue to study the human figure through the anatomy and movement of live models. Figure drawing remains one of the most historically important practices in the history of art,” she says. “Figure drawing sessions, unlike traditional art classes, are not instructor-led,” says Alexander Brooks, Community Engagement Manager for the Art & History Museum. “Participants focus on their own style, although a facilitator is on site to guide the models through poses and keep the session on schedule.” Three different options are offered throughout the series: Open Call, which is open to artists 13 and older and features clothed models; Adult, which is open to anyone 18 and older and features nude models; and Portrait, which is open to those 13 and older. “During the Open Call and Adult sessions, the models change poses on a timed schedule, either one, three or five minutes, prompted by the facilitator, while the models in the Portrait sessions maintain a single pose for the duration of the session,” Brooks explains. Artists of all skill levels are welcome to attend, must bring their own art supplies, and will be expected to sign a contract which outlines strict policies regarding model privacy and artist conduct. Sessions will be held on the following dates from 6:00-8:00 pm: Adult Sessions will be held on the first Wednesday of every month in 2026: January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4, December 2. Open Call Sessions will be held on the third Wednesday of every month of 2026: January 21, February 18, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, December 16. Portrait Sessions will be held on the last Wednesday of every other month in 2026: February 25, April 29, June 24, August 26, October 28, December 30. For more information, please call the Museum at 704-922-7681 or visit the website at www.gastoncountymuseum.org. Admission to the Museum is free. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm and Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm. For more information, visit www.gastoncountymuseum.org. < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

December 21, 2026 Jólabókaflód: Belmont Bookshop Holiday Tradition! Learn More Belmont Bookshop Venue Info 7 N Main St, Belmont, NC 28012, USA 8:00 AM Time: - 12:00 PM (704) 461-8060 Join Us for Jólabókaflód: A Belmont Bookshop Holiday Tradition!Celebrate the Icelandic tradition with the joy of books, community, and quiet reading. Known as the "Yule Book Flood," this Icelandic custom of gifting books on Christmas Eve encourages cozy nights with new stories – and we’re bringing that magic to you!At the event, you'll find:✨ A curated selection of winter reads perfect for gifting📖 Special gift-wrapping station to make each book extra festive 🎁 "Blind Date with a Book: Holiday Edition" – pick a mystery read wrapped and ready to surprise!🍷 Complimentary hot cocoa & chocolate Want to give a book you've already read and loved? We'll have a Book Swap station set up so you can bring a book (or multiple!) to shrae with others and take a new-to-you book as well. This Jólabókaflóð, let’s fill our hearts, shelves, and community with new reads! < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

August 16, 2027 Paint Your Pet with Aimee Rose Learn More Whiskerville Kitty Cat Cafe Venue Info 508 Beaty Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA 10:00 AM Time: - 12:30 PM 704-812-8417 Join us for a cozy afternoon of watercolor painting surrounded by cats at Whiskerville Kitty Cat Café in Belmont! This guided class is perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike. You’ll create your very own watercolor portrait of your pet, whether it’s a cat, dog, or any beloved animal friend. Send an email of your pet to artbyaimeerose@gmail.com after reserving your tickets < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

October 26, 2026 Oasis in Space Learn More The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium Venue Info 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA 8:30 AM Time: - 9:30 AM 704-866-6900 The Schiele Museum’s James H. Lynn Planetarium and Science Theater is home to an immersive experience unlike anything else in the area and is a “must-see” attraction during a visit to the museum. < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

October 24, 2026 Watershed Science Sunset Tour Learn More Venue Info 571 Stutts Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117, USA 2:00 PM Time: - 4:00 PM Join Catawba Riverkeeper for a sunset cruise on North Carolina’s largest reservoir! Enjoy the wind in your hair and gorgeous sunset views while you learn about water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and the history of Lake Norman and the Catawba-Wateree River Basin aboard our 12'x40' commercial boat. Watershed Science Sunset Tours are open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 PM. Tours last 2 hours and depart from Stutts Marina (571 Stutts Road) in Mooresville, NC. Not only will you have an incredible time exploring Lake Norman, but you can feel good knowing that your ticket purchase supports Catawba Riverkeeper’s mission to preserve, protect, and restore local waterways! < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

November 26, 2026 Work on Your P.H.D - Projects Half Done Learn More Gaston County Cooperative Center Venue Info Dallas, NC, USA 5:00 AM Time: - 11:00 AM 704-922-0301 Join the Quiltmakers and work on your P.H.D - Projects Half Done! This is an informal monthly event held on the 4th Thursday of the month, where you can bring your incomplete projects and work on them together! For more information, contact Linda J. Minges - llinda_minges@ncsu.edu or 704-866-3607 < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

September 19, 2026 Open Gallery Learn More Arts on the Greenway Venue Info 500 E Central Ave, Mt Holly, NC 28120, USA 6:00 AM Time: - 11:00 AM (704) 951-7474 Join us at Arts on the Greenway every Saturday for open gallery hours! Drop in to meet our talented local artists, chat about their work, and browse our unique collection of art and handcrafted gifts. Support local art and find something special! < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

October 22, 2026 Toddler Time Learn More Gaston County Library Main Branch Venue Info 1555 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA 8:30 AM Time: - 8:50 AM 704-868-2164 Toddler Time at the Gastonia Library Main Branch is for children 3 and under Join us for stories, songs and an interactive fun time! < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

March 14, 2027 Paint Your Own Ceramic Kitty Cat Dish Learn More Whiskerville Kitty Cat Cafe Venue Info 508 Beaty Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, USA 12:00 PM Time: - 2:00 PM 704-812-8417 Join us for a fun and creative Caturday at Whiskerville! This is going to be a purrfect event for all cat lovers! You will have 1.5 hours of painting your very own ceramic kitty dish in our front room and then finish the evening with 30 minutes playing with the kitties (while your dish dries). < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

February 7, 2027 SUNDAY FUNDAY- BOTH LOCATIONS Learn More Kates Skating Rink Venue Info Gastonia, NC, USA 8:00 AM Time: - 12:00 PM 704-864-7007 < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

October 5, 2026 Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs? Learn More The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium Venue Info 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA 9:30 AM Time: - 10:15 AM 704-866-6900 The Schiele Museum’s James H. Lynn Planetarium and Science Theater is home to an immersive experience unlike anything else in the area and is a “must-see” attraction during a visit to the museum. < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >

November 14, 2026 Belmont Abbey College Men's Rugby vs NCR Play-In Weekend Learn More Belmont Abbey Athletics Venue Info Belmont, NC, USA 7:00 PM Time: - 6:59 PM 704-461-6693 Join us for an exciting weekend of sports at Belmont Abbey College as the Men's Rugby team competes in the NCR Play-In Weekend, while the Women's Volleyball team takes on the Conference Carolinas Tournament Semifinals. Fans can catch all the action through streaming video available at http://www.conferencecarolinasdn.com/abbeyathletics and http://www.conferencecarolinasdn.com/. Don’t miss these thrilling matches! < PREVIOUS CALENDAR NEXT >