I opened Hickory Arts for Shannon and then, of course, for the very purpose of allowing time to develop closer, surgical bonds with our developing artists.

Sydney, like most (if not all) artists I know, is indeed a perfectionist. What I’ve come to realize and encourage through years of trial and error is that there’s beauty, originality, and style in imperfection. Imperfection is the very thing every artist should explore and exploit. But that’s a blog for another day.

Meeting Shannon, investing in her as an everything artist at Hickory Arts, more importantly as a friend, is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.

Hickory Arts Artistic Director Jeff Hartman was surprised on Thursday, June 18, 2015, with a Paul Harris Fellowship as approved by the Rotary Club of Hickory Board of Directors, nominated by Rotarian John Rambo.

Audition Etiquette for Actors has become required reading for Hickory Arts’ developing artists. The industry is polluted at every level with those who underestimate the impact of their behavior as much as those who “apathize” or tolerate anything less than decorum.

There is an art to ethics in, well, art—the business of art. Any working artist knows that for every step you take, you must take two more for the business of you and your art. It’s inescapable. Enter ethics and etiquette.

Dustin Ousley asked me to rate the top five roles he’s played. Since “all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players…”

Why we do what we do the way we do it. From Tiffany Faucette, Singer/Songwriter.

We’re frequently asked for college recommendations, especially for theatre arts. All recommendations are subjective and first-hand—instructors, former students, and colleagues.

Folks regularly ask me, "Are you having fun doing Les Misérables?" The answer is, "No, but in a good way."

Hickory Arts & Hickory Community Theatre have partnered to bring Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years to The Firemen's Kitchen as part of their Working Artist Series.

There is always a need to both celebrate and facilitate working artists—that's actors, musicians, designers, tech, especially during the summer months.

Victoria is no stranger to the stage, having appeared in numerous area theatre productions. We’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Victoria for many years. She’s currently a theatre major at Catawba College.

Hickory Arts was voted the 2013 Hickory/Western Piedmont Macaroni Kid Family Choice Awards Winner for "Favorite Music Instruction!"

One of the more difficult aspects of teaching is complying with a “Prime Directive.” We’re much more Kirk than Spock. The very nature of how we’ve chosen to teach through Hickory Arts is dependent upon thinning our skin and going the personal, proverbial extra mile.