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
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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.
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Artwork by Kelly Kennon
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Artwork by David Vanderlaan
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!
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Artwork by Kathy Borchelt
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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
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!