Culture Art for Everyone

Lake Norman offers a flourishing art scene

COMPILED BY TONY RICCIARDELLI

Whether you’re into the live music scene, visual art, theater or dance, there’s plenty of places to find cultural entertainment in our area.

The much-anticipated Cain Center for the Arts opened its doors in early 2023, offering classes and workshops for youth and adults in all forms of artistic preference. Its 400-seat venue hosts performances in theater, music, comedy and dance, including family-friendly offerings. The center boasts gallery and community spaces as well, scheduling various exhibits throughout the year featuring sculpting, digital photography, printmaking and more. There are also summer camps including programs with the Charlotte Ballet Academy. The mission of the Cain Center for the Arts is to present quality visual arts, performing arts and social experiences to the Lake Norman region.

Mooresville Arts — located in downtown Mooresville’s historical railroad depot — has been supporting the local arts community since 1955. The organization offers classes in painting, drawing and photography, as well as lectures, teen classes and a children’s Summer Art Academy. Mooresville Arts holds several juried and non-juried competitions and exhibits in a variety of categories throughout the year. The recently renovated gallery is a uniquely beautiful venue to showcase local artists.

If you’re a theater buff, you’re in luck, as any production by Davidson Community Players is sure to satisfy. The company offers shows throughout the year, as it has a permanent home at the cozy Armour Street Theatre in Davidson and each summer, residents can enjoy performances in the larger Duke Family Performance Hall at Davidson College.

Davidson College also produces top-notch theatrical productions throughout the year. In addition, the college offers the C. Shaw and Nancy K. Smith Artist Series, which brings in performances by visiting musicians, choral groups, dance troupes and theatrical companies. Music at Davidson College includes the Davidson College Concert Series along with performances by The Davidson College Concert Choir, The Davidson College Chorale, The Davidson College Jazz Ensemble and The Davidson College Symphony Orchestra.

For more than 14 seasons, Music at St. Albans in Davidson has brought world-renowned musicians to the Lake Norman area performing in musical genres such as Celtic, classical and gospel.

During the warmer months, pack a picnic basket and head out to the Village Green (corner of Main Street and Concord Road) in Davidson for Concerts on the Green. From big bands to beach music and yacht rock, this series appeals to all ages.

Birkdale Village in Huntersville offers a summer concert series on the weekends. Old Town Cornelius is home to the monthly 2nd Friday Street Festival Series, featuring live music, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and other family-friendly entertainment.

Art crawls through Cornelius and Davidson all year long offer extra fun. The Van Every/Smith Galleries and Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center at Davidson College also offer changing exhibitions, artist receptions and talks throughout the year.

However you wish to express your creativity or enjoy the creativity of others, you can bet there’s an outlet for you in the Lake Norman area.

The Scoop

Cain Center for the Arts www.cainarts.org

Mooresville Arts www.mooresvillearts.org

Davidson Concerts on the Green www.concertsonthegreen.com

Davidson College www.davidson.edu

Davidson Community Players www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org

Music at St. Albans www.musicatstalbansdavidson.org