Valley River Arts Guild at the MAC, Murphy Art Center
  • ~ About Us ~
  • ~ Adult Classes ~
  • ~ Youth Classes ~
  • ~ Murphy Art Walk ~
  • ~ The Murphy Art Xplosion ~
  • ~ Meet Our Members ~
  • ~ SMArt Tour: Smoky Mountain Art Studio Tour ~
  • ~ Legacy Support: Living and Lasting ~
  • ~ Our Impact in the Community ~
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
So much to be grateful for !
Picture
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Picture

​  Cool.   Colorful.   Creative.   Eclectic.

Something For Everyone


 woodworking       pottery     paintings     jewelry     candles   
stained glass      quilts      handbags     sculptures 
books    greeting cards   photography
   baskets   mosaics   puzzles   ornaments   fused glass

​and much more!!!

Come.  Linger.  Enjoy.
​
 12 Peachtree Street (on the Square)
Murphy, NC 28906


828-360-3038
Picture


Toys for Tots

 Support needy kids in our community!

This is a Special Event Promoted by The MAC.

The Murphy Art Center is YOUR official drop-off location
for new unwrapped toys.
Bring your contribution to The MAC during business hours through December 15.


Call The MAC at 828-360-3038 for more information.

Picture

Really Big Art Show! 
Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime show!
This is a Special Event Promoted by The MAC.


This is a special invitation to the Murphy Art Center
to personally view the world's largest collection of

Kenneth Fritsch's huge paintings.

This collection was donated to the Valley River Arts Guild and
will be displayed at The MAC for the first time!


The show runs through the end of November.
Picture

Art Walk Holiday Extravaganza

Dec 5 - Come enjoy the last Art Walk of 2025.

It's going to be BIG! Extended hours from 1 PM to 8 PM.
This is a great event to enjoy and to get some Christmas shopping done, too!
Vendors will be lining the streets, bringing you the
finest local arts and crafts for super Christmas gi
fts!


Call The MAC for more information (828-360-3038).
Picture

 Before You Know it.... Christmas Will Be Here!
Bring the Whole Family Downtown to Enjoy our
 Make and Take:


SNOWMAN LIGHT!

Ping Pong Anyone?

Bring the kids and watch them decorate a snowman
from ping pong balls and a battery-powered tea light.


FREE EVENT for kids of all ages brought to you by The MAC.
Friday, December 5, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM 

Picture


 Santa is coming!

Come down to The MAC on Shop and Sip Saturday - December 13 from 2-5 PM

Bring the kids, bring the pups!
Because Santa will be at The MAC, ready to take pics with you and yours.
As a special treat, Santa's helpers will be
giving out a free Art Kit to all kids under 18.
Limited to the first 100 kids, while supplies last!


Call The MAC at 828-360-3038 for more information.
Picture

And then
​
WOW! It's a FREE event!

Start off with the morning's youth class if you'd like -  
see our Youth Page for info -
​and then

stay afterward for the free event:


Make Your Own Gnome Snow Globe:
Let it snow!
from 2PM -5PM


During Saturday Shop and Sip, all youngsters from ages  5-17,
can visit Santa for a free gift, take your picture, and then
make a snow globe with us.

All materials supplied.

Oh Boy! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Picture

Have a skill? Want to share it?

No prior experience required.
​Join our great group of instructors at The MAC and be paid for the fun! 


​Send an email to either [email protected] for Kids Classes

or [email protected] for Teen and/or Adult Classes.
Picture


Picture

The Murphy Art Center
(The MAC)


Home of
The Valley River Arts Guild:


Your Destination
for 
The Arts
and 
Entertainment!

Picture

WATCH these short EXCITING videos of the MAC!!!

Valley River Arts Guild

dba The MAC,
Murphy Art Center™

12 Peachtree Street
On the Square

Downtown Murphy, NC
28906

828.360.3038
Gallery and Shop Hours
  • Open Monday through Saturday 10am - 5pm​
  • First Friday Evenings open late until 8pm
  • Sundays 11am until 4:30pm
Picture
The Valley River Arts Guild

(VRAG) is a ​not-for-profit

organization created to support

local artists and promote art in

the community.
​

 






About Valley River Arts Guild

The Valley River Arts Guild

(VRAG) was formed in 2010

as a 501-c3 non-profit art organization,

to support the talent and creativity of the artists

in our community, to unify our community around the arts

through classes and events, and to enhance the livability

of our town as an art-centric community.



The VRAG conducts classes for kids, teens, and adults,

hosts a beautiful arts and crafts gallery

at our Murphy Art Center for regional artists,

and sponsors art events including

the First Friday Murphy Art Walk.



The MAX Project, Murphy Art Xplosion, ​Outdoor Art

Gallery, the Music/Art program on First Fridays,

and our annual SMArt Studio Tour,

all to establish the region as an arts destination.


All events, programs, and projects are produced

by our Valley River Arts Guild's

volunteer members and associates,

with support by our valuable community partners.



​The VRAG Gallery is located

at The Murphy Art Center (The MAC)™,

12 Peachtree Street, on the Square,

downtown Murphy, North Carolina.

Original and affordable works of art and creative

Appalachian crafts are hand-crafted

​by our dozens of artist members and are on display

and available for purchase

​at our huge gorgeous downtown Murphy gallery.

The Art Classroom is located within the Murphy Art

Center™, in the same downtown building as
​
the Valley River Arts Guild galleries.

Picture
Artwork by Kelly Kennon

Picture
Artwork by David Vanderlaan


Picture
Click here for The VRAG's Facebook Page

Keep up with the latest

happenings and new arts

and crafts by adding a Like

to our ​Facebook Page
 
and visiting it often.

New classes and events are

added regularly and photos

of new art are added to the

Facebook Photo Gallery to

inspire you to visit.

Please support the Arts in

our community by visiting

​ the Gallery today!
Picture
Artwork by Kathy Borchelt

Picture
Artwork by Barbara Keyes


Valley River Arts Guild

2025 - 2026
​Board of Directors


President -
Joyce Clair


Vice President -
Steven Inglima


Treasurer -
Tom Caley


Secretary -
Carrie Keohane


Director at Large -
Alana Kolifrath

Community Board Member -
Steven Aft

Community Board Member -
Debra Vanderlaan


    Contact Us

Submit

Would you like to become a member of Valley River Arts Guild and support the arts in the Murphy, NC area?
​Are you willing to work a minimum of 12 days a year in the guild's gallery store promoting sales and the art community, while serving on at least 1 standing committee?

If you are an artist or crafter in the Murphy or surrounding area of North Georgia or North Carolina and would like to join us in making the Murphy Art Center, the Town of Murphy, and Cherokee County an art destination:
  1. Download and read the membership form below.
  2. Complete the membership application.
  3. Contact the Valley River Arts Guild volunteer listed in the form to schedule an orientation/training session.
  4. Bring your artwork to hang or display with you to your orientation/training session.

If you have any questions concerning membership with Valley River Arts Guild, stop by the Gallery at 12 Peachtree Street, downtown Murphy, send us an email at [email protected], or call 828-360-3038.

Our Mission Statement: The Valley River Arts Guild was formed in March 2010 to serve the artistic community of the region by showcasing regional arts, providing opportunities for regional artisans to show and sell their work, developing an artists’ network and by sponsoring monthly art events to establish the region as an arts destination.

Below is the current Valley River Arts Guild member application for

our new fiscal year,September 1st, 2025 - August 31st, 2026.   

Download the form, print, read and fill it out, and return to The MAC,

Murphy Art Center. Be sure to also contact the person in charge of

​training. You can also ask for a printed copy at The MAC. Thank you!
Valley River Arts Guild Membership Form 2025-2026




Valley River Arts Guild operates as a
501(c)3 non-profit arts organization
for Western North Carolina and
​North Georgia in Murphy North Carolina.
© 2022 Valley River Arts Guild, All Rights Reserved
The MAC, Murphy Art Center
™

Picture
Picture
  • ~ About Us ~
  • ~ Adult Classes ~
  • ~ Youth Classes ~
  • ~ Murphy Art Walk ~
  • ~ The Murphy Art Xplosion ~
  • ~ Meet Our Members ~
  • ~ SMArt Tour: Smoky Mountain Art Studio Tour ~
  • ~ Legacy Support: Living and Lasting ~
  • ~ Our Impact in the Community ~