Impact Report 2024 & 2025

Impact Report

2024 - 25

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A Letter from our Executive Director and Board Chair

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s we reflect on the past two years at The Bascom, we are filled with gratitude, pride, and a deep sense of purpose.

2024 and 2025 reminded us—sometimes unexpectedly—of the essential role The Bascom plays in the life of our community and the power of the visual arts to bring people together during moments of both celebration and challenge.

When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina in the fall of 2024, The Bascom responded not by retreating, but by opening our doors wider. Our campus became a place of gathering, generosity, and care—where artists, neighbors, and volunteers transformed creative energy into tangible support for those affected.

That moment reflected something we have long believed: The Bascom is more than a place to view art; it is a place where community lives, responds, and grows.

As we celebrated our 40th anniversary, we did so with renewed momentum. This past year brought record attendance, expanded educational programming, and meaningful outreach to thousands of participants across the Plateau.

We welcomed resident artists, strengthened community partnerships, and continued our commitment to accessibility through free admission and low-cost or no-cost programs.

These efforts are made possible by extraordinary staff, dedicated volunteers, a fully engaged board, and generous supporters who believe deeply in the value of the arts.

At the same time, we are looking forward. From ambitious exhibitions and workshops to longrange campus planning and capital investment, The Bascom is in a season of thoughtful growth.

Our goal remains clear: to ensure that this campus continues to serve as a welcoming space where creativity, learning, and connection are available to all.

Billy Love Executive Director

None of this work happens alone. We are profoundly grateful for the trust and support of our donors, partners, artists, and community members. Your belief in The Bascom allows us to remain resilient, responsive, and inspired as we build toward the next chapter of our shared story.

Thank you for being part of The Bascom. We invite you to explore this impact report and celebrate all that we have accomplished together.

With Gratitude, Billy Love, Executive Director Ann Wrobleski, Chair, Board of Directors

Ann Wrobleski Chair, Board of Directors

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Table of Contents

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Forty Years of Shared Creative Life

Opening the Doors Wider

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Artists Supported

Bascom Clay Symposium

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Community as a Co-Creator

Spaces that Gather People

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Youth and Lifelong Learning

Holiday Market

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Giving Societies

Framing the Future

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Financials

Board of Directors Serving Years 2024-2025 Andy Adams David Bock Michael Crowe Margaret Denny, Secretary, past Vice Chair Chris Duffy Lynn DeVault Kendra Hildbold Kathleen Hohlstein Maudie Huff Barbara Jamison Bill Jump, Treasurer Sue Lewis, Assistant Secretary Mark Mahaffey Myron Mall, Assistant Treasurer Carol Misner Kirk Moore

Charlene Palmisano, Vice Chair, past Secretary Kathy Prosser Nancy Race Marie Sharpe Rusty Stewart Susan Tarver Greg Thompson* Ansley Tolleson Marcia Weber Hilary Wilkes Ann Wrobleski, Chair Billy Love, Executive Director

*In memoriam

We believe in the power of art to inspire and empower individuals and communities.

These Numbers Made these Numbers Possible

Director's Circle Donors Director's Circle 2025 Retention Rate

First Time Donors out of 569 Total Donors in 2025

Barratt Society Households, with 11 new Barratt Society Members in 2025

Attendance and Reach 2024+2025

Outreach events 2024+2025 Serving 7,833 participants

Classes and Workshops 2024+2025 Serving 2,475 participants

Lectures, Artist Talks, and Artist Demonstrations 2024+2025 Serving 1,725 participants

Artists Served in 2024+2025

More information on our Giving Societies 5 is available beginning on page 20.

To mark the occasion, The Bascom presented Inspiring and Empowering: A Journey Through The Bascom’s Exhibition Legacy, a retrospective exhibition featuring a timeline that traced the organization’s exhibition history since opening its current campus in 2009. Spanning 2009 to 2024, the abbreviated timeline presented here documents a period of artistic growth and evolving curatorial vision, highlighting how exhibitions have responded to place, engaged regional and national artists, and reflected ongoing conversations around material, landscape, and process. From focused gallery presentations to immersive installations and outdoor sculpture integrated into the campus landscape, these exhibitions reflect a commitment to thoughtful, accessible work grounded in both contemporary practice and regional context.

Forty Years of Shared Creative Life Seeing, Thinking, and Doing Together

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2025, The Bascom marked forty years of serving the Highlands– Cashiers Plateau as a place where people come together through the visual arts. What began as a small gallery has grown into a center for exhibitions, education, and hands-on creative experiences that welcomes more than 20,000 visitors each year and engages thousands of participants across ages and backgrounds. This anniversary year offered an opportunity to reflect on how exhibitions, in A Journey Through The Bascom’s Exhibition Legacy, 2009 - 2024 particular, have shaped a shared creative life at The Bascom.

Inspiring & Empowering

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Helen Frankenthaler and the Color Field Painters

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Do Tell: outdoor installation by Patrick Dougherty

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Frank Stella: American Master

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Barbara Sorenson: Goddesses

Stephen Knapp: New Lightpaintings

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Chicks: It’s All Gone to the Birds

Wesley Wofford: Beneath the Surface

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Herbert Creecy: A Survey of Major Paintings

Juried exhibitions, invitational shows, resident artist presentations, and collaborative projects have supported artists at different stages of their careers while contributing to the cultural life of the Plateau. Seen together, they form a continuous record of creative exchange between artists, audiences, and place.

“Since connecting with The Bascom as an undergraduate student, I have felt extremely supported and championed by the staff and patrons. The meaningful opportunities they create and share and have strongly aided in my career development as an artist.”

Scan to view the full exhibition timeline

Elizabeth Walton Artist + Curator of Form.ative (2022)

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Journeys in Iron: Outdoor Sculptural Invitational

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Ebb and Flow, Bloom and Fade

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PaPer View

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100 Miles

FreeWheeling

Into the Wood: Ed, Philip, and Matt Moulthrop

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Lasting Impressions: Japanese Prints from the Read-Simms Collection

Glass Pioneers: Western North Carolina and the Studio Glass Movement

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Opening the Doors Wider Access to Art for All

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or forty years, The Bascom has been guided by a simple and enduring belief: that art belongs to everyone. During 2024–2025, donor support ensured that this belief remained not an aspiration, but an actively practiced commitment across Western North Carolina.

Free admission to exhibitions removed cost as a barrier for thousands of visitors, allowing individuals and families to encounter art as part of everyday life. Across the galleries, visitors engaged with both contemporary and historical works, slowing down, reflecting, and discovering new perspectives through seeing, thinking, and doing in an open and welcoming environment.

Through outreach partnerships with schools, libraries, senior centers, and homeschool communities, The Bascom extended accessible, high-quality creative experiences into rural settings where opportunities for arts engagement are often limited by distance or resources. These programs introduced young learners to materials and methods while offering adults and seniors meaningful opportunities for connection, expression, and wellbeing.

Donor generosity made possible meaningful moments that often unfold quietly: children shaping clay for the first time, families discovering shared creative experiences, and individuals finding a sense of belonging through the visual arts.

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“Thank you for hosting Imago Dei’s fifth grade class for a day of pottery lessons at The Bascom. The students really enjoyed their time at the wheel, exploring the gallery, and hiking the trails. We appreciate your generous scholarship donation on our behalf to make such an experience possible for our students.

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge, materials, and equipment to teach a medium that they do not have access to at our school. We appreciate you!”

Mrs. Cowan | Art Teacher Imago Dei Classical Academy Mills River, NC

Did You Know?

In 2025, we visited the Hudson Library six times, pairing each story reading with a related hands-on art activity, resulting in 100 completed works of art.

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Artists are essential to The Bascom’s mission and to the cultural life of Western North Carolina. During 2024–2025, donor support enabled The Bascom to work with more than 250 artists through exhibitions, residencies, teaching roles, professional internships, and retail partnerships.

Artists Supported Sustaining Creative Practice in Rural Appalachia xhibitions play an important role in this system of support, offering artists meaningful opportunities for visibility, professional dialogue, and growth across disciplines and career stages. Through curated exhibitions, open calls, and collegiate surveys such as Emergence, The Bascom provides professional and early-career artists with opportunities to situate their work within a broader regional and national context.

Biennial and annual calls, including the Outdoor Sculpture Program, further supported professional development by offering hands-on experience with public presentation, installation, and audience engagement.

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This integrated system of support proved especially meaningful following Hurricane Helene, when artists whose studios were damaged or inaccessible were welcomed into The Bascom’s studios. Access to studios, kilns, teaching opportunities, and retail opportunities allowed artists to continue working, earning income, and remaining connected to their “I do not have a studio community during a period of uncertainty.

or kiln to fire since the flood, and I was able to make enough work at The Bascom to have an online sale and restock my gallery. Selling pottery and teaching is my only income, so this was an essential opportunity.”

Melissa Weiss Potter and Educator

In 2025, The Bascom expanded its commitment to artist development with the launch of the Emerging Designer Program, a mentored internship designed to support early-career graphic designers through hands-on experience in arts marketing and visual communication. Rooted in the Creative Community Initiative, the program addresses a regional need for accessible, career-building opportunities

in the arts by offering real-world professional training within a mission-driven nonprofit environment.

The inaugural cohort, Seth Baker and Parks Felton, graphic design students at Western Carolina University, worked closely with The Bascom’s Director of Marketing and Communications on major projects, including Chatov: A Retrospective and the Dazzling Dahlia Festival. Through the development of exhibition and event collateral, participants gained experience in design strategy, visual storytelling, and nonprofit communications while contributing meaningfully to The Bascom’s public-facing work.

By supporting artists at all stages of their careers, donors help ensure that creative practice can be sustained in rural Appalachia, strengthening both individual livelihoods and the broader regional creative economy.

“Participating in Emergence allows students to visualize themselves within a much broader view of undergraduate and graduate programs in the Southeast and has helped them dream bigger. These exhibitions, along with the Outdoor Sculpture program, provide practical, career-oriented experience that is invaluable for young artists.”

Doug McAbee Professor of Art, Lander University

(Top) students view their work in the 2025 Emergence Exhibition.

(Bottom) Emerging Designers, Seth Baker and Parks Felton celebrate during the 2025 fall reception.

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The Bascom Clay Symposium Shared Learning and Contemporary Ceramic Practice n 2025, The Bascom presented two Clay Symposiums following the previous year’s disruption caused by Hurricane Helene. The 14th Annual Bascom Clay Symposium, Symbolism in Expressive Narrative, brought together Christine Kosiba, Andrea Keys Connell, and Taylor Robenalt, with a keynote by Stephanie Moore, Executive Director, The Center for Craft, offering demonstrations and conversations that invited participants and visitors into close dialogue with contemporary ceramic practice.

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year, featured Kirsten Stingle, Natasha Dikareva, and Thaddeus Erdahl, with a keynote address by Bethany Chaney, Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School. This fall gathering was accompanied by the exhibition Forms of Inspiration: Ceramic Artists of the Bascom Clay Symposium, presenting selected works by participating artists in the Joel Gallery.

Together, the Clay Symposia fostered meaningful connection between artists and audiences, supported working artists through visibility and exchange, and offered the community free access to thoughtful, process-driven engagement with clay as both material and language.

Later in the year, the 15th Annual Clay Symposium, Forms of Inspiration, held during The Bascom’s 40th anniversary

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2013 Ben Owen III, William McCanless, and Fred Johnston

Cynthia Bringle, Mark Hewitt, and David Stuempfle

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Brandon Reese, Jim Connell, and Fong Choo

Chris Gustin, Jennifer McCurdy, and Christina Cordova

Summer: Mike Lalone, Mike Vatalaro, and Sue Grier

Trey Hill, Shadow May, and Alex Matisse

Cynthia Bringle, Michael Sherrill, and Ron Meyers

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Fall: Debra Fritts, Nancy Kubale, and Lisa Clague

“What sets this organization apart from other art centers is its commitment to providing programming and opportunities that bring people together and enrich the lives of participants and visitors alike.”

Kirsten Stingle Ceramics Artist and Educator

2019 Kyle Carpenter, Ron Philbeck, and Michael Kline

Chad Brown, David Stuempfle, and Pam Owens

Josh Copus, Maria Dondero, and Fred Johnston

Amy Sanders, Jennifer Mecca, and Kristin Schoonover

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Takuro Shibata, Hitomi Shibata, and Matthew Schiemann

Spring: Christine Kosiba, Andréa Keys Connell, and Taylor Robenalt Keynote by Stephanie Moore Fall: Kirsten Stingle, Natasha Dikareva, and Thaddeus Erdahl Keynote by Bethany Chaney

Eric Knoche, Joey Sheehan, and Will Dickert

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Keynote by Michael Sherrill

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he Bascom functions not only as a site for viewing art, but as a shared space of creative exchange. Throughout 2024–2025, communitycentered programs such as Community Day, the Holiday Market, the Barn Dance, Bascom Clay Symposia, and the Dazzling Dahlia Festival invited the public to engage with art as a collective experience.

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In 2025, The Bascom welcomed the Dazzling Dahlia Festival to campus, thoughtfully reimagining the event as a program that connects horticulture and the visual arts.

New educational and interpretive offerings, including The Dahlia Dialogue and Petals and Perspectives, expanded the festival’s scope and created opportunities for collaboration with community partners, reinforcing The Bascom’s role as a place where the visual arts, education, and local heritage intersect.

Dazzling Dahlia Festival photos, from left to right: Aaron Ganey and Gage Lequire for Design Nouveau | Sonya Carpenter and Ester Gooch for Cohabitate Kim Daughtry, Tim Whatley, and Drew English | Crowd pictured during Drew English’s Dahlia Dialogue | Logo Design by Emerging Designer, Parks Felton

A young couple dance during the Community Barn Dance, 2025 Photo by Mary Gillan Renfro

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Spaces that Gather People Campus Stewardship as Community Infrastructure he Bascom’s campus is more than a setting for programs; it is an essential space where the visual arts, education, and community life intersect.

During 2024–2025, donor investment strengthened this role in meaningful ways.

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The restoration and reopening of the Will Henry Stevens Bridge reaffirmed its function as both a physical connector and a symbolic threshold, welcoming visitors once again to campus. The completion and dedication of the Soda Kiln, along with surrounding patio and lawn spaces, expanded opportunities for gathering and shared experience, transforming technical processes into moments of collaboration and discovery.

(Left) Community members celebrate during the re-dedication of the Will Henry Stevens Bridge (Right) Thanks to the generous support of the Campbell, Mahaffey, and Winkler families, The Bascom now features a newly constructed soda kiln, along with a patio and lawn areas that further enrich our outdoor gathering spaces.

“The March firing of The Bascom’s soda kiln gave me renewed inspiration, new skills, and insights that will sustain my studio and teaching practice for the future.”

Will Dickert Potter and Educator

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Youth and Lifelong Learning Education as a Foundation for Community Well-being n 2024–2025, The Bascom made a strategic investment in expanding youth and community learning through the addition of Ceramics ArtistEducator Ester Lipscomb and Community Engagement Associate, Caryn Raming. Together, these roles increased The Bascom’s capacity to serve learners of all ages across the Plateau.

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Under Lipscomb’s leadership, youth and family programming expanded to include children’s classes, homeschool offerings, and intergenerational workshops that introduced young participants to studio practice while building confidence, curiosity, and creative problem-solving skills.

Raming expanded The Bascom’s outreach offerings through partnerships with schools, libraries, senior centers, and youth-serving organizations, increasing the reach and consistency of arts experiences beyond campus and helping ensure access for individuals who might otherwise face barriers to participation.

Did You Know?

In 2025, The Bascom supported creative engagement at the Cashiers Senior Center through 14 hands-on projects, collectively producing 125 works of art.

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“We have enjoyed the various multimedia art projects that The Bascom has provided for our seniors at the Cashiers Senior Center over the past year...The instructors are attentive to our seniors and offer the one-on-one support that some participants require. While class sizes vary from month to month, participation has increased steadily in recent months. We have enjoyed the art projects and hope to continue this program at our center.”

Linda Buchanan Cashiers Senior Center, Manager

“When I moved to the Highlands area in 2020, I really got to know the people who made The Bascom The Bascom. They were the ones who shaped it into something artistic, open, friendly, and deeply creative.

Being around them changed how I thought about community and collaboration. I love spending my time there, doing my work, and sharing that work with the people who give the place its soul.”

Olga King Artist + Bascom Volunteer

Holiday Market Seasonal Engagement and Artist Support n 2025, The Bascom presented its second annual Holiday Market, building on the success of its inaugural year. Running from November through late December, the Holiday Market features a wide range of artist-made works by local and regional makers, offering patrons an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind objects while directly supporting working artists and The Bascom’s Creative Community Initiative.

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The Market also served as a driver of arts engagement during the winter months, inviting visitors to pair shopping with creative experiences, exhibitions, and hands-on activities for all ages. Through its combination of artist support, free public access, and community-centered programming, the Holiday Market strengthened connections between artists and audiences and reinforced The Bascom’s role as a place for shared creative experience.

Did You Know?

During the 2025 Holiday Market The Bascom offered 17 festive workshops.

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Giving Societies Ways to Support The Bascom n July 5, 2025, The Bascom introduced new giving societies during its fourth annual Benefactors’ Breakfast, a gathering that recognizes the generosity of supporters whose philanthropic investments sustain the mission to create visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking, and doing.

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The breakfast served as both a celebration and an expression of gratitude, acknowledging the essential role philanthropy plays in advancing exhibitions, educational programming, and community outreach. Guests were honored with commemorative lapel pins representing The Bascom’s giving societies, tangible symbols of the enduring relationship between generosity and community enrichment.

In addition to the Director’s Circle, which recognizes annual giving, and The Barratt Society, which honors leadership-level annual support, the 2025 Benefactors’ Breakfast marked the introduction of two new giving societies: The 1985 Society recognizes lifetime giving from dedicated supporters whose sustained contributions have played a vital role in shaping The Bascom’s growth and impact.

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The Bascom Legacy Society honors individuals who have established planned gifts by naming The Bascom as a beneficiary in their estate plans, ensuring longterm support for future generations.

The Bascom is deeply grateful to every donor who believes in the transformative power of the visual arts. Through this generosity, accessible and meaningful arts experiences continue to strengthen individual lives and enrich communities across the region.

Your donations are essential to the advancement of our mission, and your support ensures The Bascom remains a premier destination in Western North Carolina to experience the transformative power of the visual arts. The Bascom is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization, Tax ID: 56-2093546. Contributions are taxdeductible as allowed by law.

Photos from the 2025 Benefactors’ Breakfast.

Photos by Susan B. Renfro

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Thank you to our Donors Our impact on the regional artistic community is significant, but we could not do it without the generous support of our Bascom family, who donate their time, energy, talents and resources to ensuring we are able to continue our mission.

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Patrons gather during the 2025 Patron Party.

Photo by Susan B. Renfro

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All giving circles are through December 31, 2025

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$50,000 – Satulah Circle $100,000 – Hudson Circle $250,000 – Louise Circle $500,000 – Crane Circle $1,000,000+ - Stevens Circle

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The How: The 1985 Society donors are recognized for lifetime cumulative contributions beginning at a total value of $50,000 through the following giving circles:

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The Why: The Bascom thrives because of supporters and artists who have consistently been engaged over the decades. The 1985 Society honors the year that The Bascom was established and honors the lifelong support of its donors. Acknowledging lifetime giving demonstrates the full impact of the individual’s philanthropic efforts.

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The Background: Formalized as a giving society in 2025, The 1985 Society honors lifetime giving from dedicated and consistent supporters, recognizing their cumulative donations over the years. The Bascom began over 40 years ago in 1985 as a small, dedicated exhibition space in one room of the Hudson Library after a surprise gift was received from the Watson Barratt estate, and it now occupies a stunning six-acre former horse farm near downtown Highlands.

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Stevens Circle $1,000,000+ Named for Southern Modernist Will Henry Stevens, whose namesake bridge serves as both a literal and symbolic entry to The Bascom, linking the past and our future through shared creative community.

The Estate of Frances Bunzl Cathy and Bob Fisher Nancy and Larry* Fuller Louree and Bill Greehey Mary and Greg* Thompson Angela and Art Williams *In memoriam

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Crane Circle $500,000

Louise Circle $250,000

Commemorating The Bascom’s evolution into an

Named in tribute to writer and Highlands native

independent nonprofit and its new beginnings on the

Louise Bascom Barratt, whose legacy inspired the

historic Crane family farm, a place where art and nature

transformative gift made in her memory by her

thrive together in harmony.

husband, Watson Barratt.

Debi and David Bock Virginia and Mike Campbell Lucy and Jack Kuhne Marianne and Mark Mahaffey Vance and Willis Willey

Marty and Dan Boone Tricia Bunzl Lynn DeVault and Glo Ghegan Gail Coutcher Hughes and Tim Hughes Gail and Paul Jones Judy and Bennett Kight Dianne and Myron Mall Heath Massey and John Mitchener Cecile and Philip* McCaull Linda and Mark Quick Suzanne B. Wilner Heather and Horst* Winkler *In memoriam

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Hudson Circle $100,000 Honoring The Bascom’s humble beginnings within a single room of the Hudson Library, where the roots of our creative community were planted.

Judith and Ron Bobo Cathryn Britton Fred and Helen Cooper Kitty and T. Wayne Davis Susie Day Sylvia and Don Dorough Gayle and Frank Eby Ruthie and Berryman Edwards Gregory and Buffy File Meegie Glass Bobbie and Jonathan Golden Nancy and Charles Harrison The Estate of Sara and Fred Hoyt Paula and Barry* Jones

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Carol and Stiles Kellett Beverly Koski The Estate of Sara Mann Fran and Bill Matthews Anita and Larry Maxwell Rozzy and John McCoy Diane and Ray McPhail Marsha and Jim Meadows Kevin Naylor Janet and Carlisle Overstreet Sue and Kimble Ratliff Elizabeth and Edwin Rodriguez Kathy and Joe Sanderson The Estate of Cary Saurage II

Beverly and Wally Seinsheimer Ann and Claude* Sullivan Susan and Charley Tarver Kathy and David Trice Betsy and Wright Turner Paula Walsh Marcia and Charlie Weber Dian and Tom Winingder Peggy Woodruff *In memoriam

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Emily Adkins and Ben Smith Marjorie and James Andrews Robert Balentine Vivi and Wayne Beckner Jane and Richard Beeler Mary Ann and Dick Boger Lee Bowman Jenny Lynn and Waldo* Bradley Linda and Hines Brannan Jonye and Deane Briggs Judy and Jack Brinson Maureen and Arthur Britton Nancy and William Broyles Malcolm Burgess* James and Jean Callier Jimmie and Wayne Carse Eleanor and Bill Cheney Linda and Tommy Clark Geri and Wade Coleman Linda and Dick Cravey Claire and Alex Crumbley Margaret and Dallas Denny Candy and Gus* Denton Linda and Dick Dickinson Sandy and Jim Dixon Beverly Ellars

Satulah Circle $50,000 Honoring the visionary gift made possible by the sale of the Barratt home on Satulah Mountain, a lasting act of generosity that realized a dream and laid the foundation for a center for the visual arts in Highlands.

Leslie and Taylor Garnett The Estate of Anne and Martin Gary Joseph Giegel Sieglinde and John Gillfillan Anne and Dick Goodsell Emily Gray Betti and Corb Hankey Pat Hartrampf Helen and Comer Hobbs Kathleen and Chrisopher Hohlstein Edith Holiday and Terry Adamson Fay Howell Anna and Dolf James Amelia and Curtis James The Estate of Richard Joel Sr. Cathy and D. Paul Jones Vesta and David Jones Ann Klamon James H. Landon Marianne and E.G. Lassiter Jody and Wood Lovell C. Knox Massey Jr. Mary Eliza and Howard* McMillan Charlotte* and Finley Merry Carol Misner and Ann Huckstep Flossie and Tommy Mobley

Beth and Jim Nellis Nancy and Lyle Nichols Charlene and Tony Palmisano Hilda and Pat Patrick Anne Maddrey Carpenter and Peter Portley Jack Price Agnes and Charles Richards Bridget and Al Ritter Janet and James Robbins Jack Sawyer and Bill Torres Kurt Schulzman and Richard Neri Wyn and Bill Shoptaw Victoria and John Simms Bessie Speed Helen Steward Cindy and Andy Strickland Corbin and Robert Tucker Suzanne and Edward Turnbull Jane Webb and David* La Cagnina Sarah Morgan and Walter Wingfield Lynne Winship Patsy and Bill Wolff Carla and Leonard Wood Ann Wrobleski *In memoriam

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Barratt Society for annual leadership commitments

The Background: Named after the first gift to establish The Bascom from Watson Barratt and Louise Bascom Barratt, the Barratt Society honors supporters who give leadership annual gifts to support programming, events, and operations of The Bascom.

Launched in 2022, The Barratt Society received over $1.5 million in support in its first three years with 33 philanthropists contributing to the efforts.

The Why: Committed annual leadership gifts are crucial to the yearly needs and future planning of The Bascom’s programs, staff, and community outreach. The impact of the Barratt Society on The Bascom and its financial sustainability has been extraordinary over the past three years.

The How: With a minimum of $10,000 a year for a minimum consecutive commitment of three years, supporters can be honored as a Barratt Society member. Annual levels of giving within the Barratt Society presently include gifts from $10,000 to $100,000 annually.

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Barratt Society Gifts Make Possible the Following: Barratt Society gifts make possible the transformational experience of seeing and making art for audiences across the region, ensuring that the power of art is accessible to all. Gifts support The Bascom’s free exhibitions, sculpture trail, gallery receptions, community initiatives with art education opportunities for children through senior adults, complimentary community events such as Community Day in July, the Community Barn Dance in August, and the Dahlia Festival in September, annual Bascom Clay Symposium, art course scholarships, and the broader operational needs of our art center.

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2025 Barratt Society Members Debi and David Bock Marty and Dan Boone Virginia and Mike Campbell Susie Day Margaret and Dallas Denny Lynn DeVault and Glo Ghegan Ruthie and Berryman Edwards Beverly Ellars Sue Emanuelson, Murphy Townsend, and Gregor Turk Cathy and Bob Fisher Meegie Glass Louree and Bill Greehey Nancy and Charles Harrison

Kendra and Rick Hildbold Kathleen and Christopher Hohlstein Maudie and Bill Huff Gail Coutcher Hughes and Tim Hughes Jane Jerry Elizabeth and Bill Jump Ann Klamon Frank Langford Jr. Marianne and Mark Mahaffey Dianne and Myron Mall Heath Massey and John Mitchener Anita and Larry Maxwell Diane and Ray McPhail Melissa and William Meyers

Carol Misner and Ann Huckstep Charlene and Tony Palmisano Kathy and Tony Prosser Nancy and Kevin Race The Estate of Cary Saurage II Anneli and Robert Thiebaut Mary and Greg* Thompson Marcia and Charlie Weber Vance and Willis Willey Carla and Leonard Wood Ann Wrobleski

*In memoriam

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The Background: Background: Created to encourage and steward gifts of $1,000 or more, The Director’s Circle allows opportunities for many donors to be recognized for their yearly contributions to The Bascom.

The Why: This giving circle allows supporters to be involved in the work of the Bascom with yearly gifts starting at a minimum of $1,000. Gifts to The Director’s Circle support the mission of The Bascom through on-site and off-site programs, daily operations, and staffing.

The How: o $1,000 - Silver Director’s Circle o $2,500 - Gold Director’s Circle o $5,000 - Platinum Director’s Circle

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Director’s Circle Gifts Make Possible the Following: Director’s Circle gifts make possible the transformational experience of seeing and making art for audiences across the region, ensuring that the power of art is accessible to all. Gifts support The Bascom’s free exhibitions, sculpture trail, gallery receptions, community initiatives with art education opportunities for children through senior adults, complimentary community events such as Community Day in July, the Community Barn Dance in August, and the Dahlia Festival in September, annual Bascom Clay Symposium, art course scholarships, and the broader operational needs of our art center.

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2025 Platinum Director’s Circle Donors Bel Canto Recital Judith and Ron Bobo Katherine and Glenn Bosio Jack Brinson Cathryn Britton Cedar Creek Club Michael Burel and Michael Crowe Claire and Alex Crumbley Cullasaja Women’s Outreach Leslie and Ronald Ezerski Anne and Dick Goodsell Helen A. Powers Fund Kathryn and Doug Hendrickson

Highlands Chamber of Commerce Kay Hodges Ede and Terry Holiday Nancy and Johnny Johns Catherine and Paul Jones Carol and Stiles Kellett Sandy Killion Lucy and Jack Kuhne North Carolina Arts Council Sidney Pearce Richard J. Reynolds and Marie M. Reynolds Foundation Janet and Jim Robbins

Judith and Bahnson Stanley Linda and David Stetson Carol and Rusty Stewart Susan and Charley Tarver Betsy and Wright Turner Wade Hampton Golf Club Ruthie Watts Angela and Art Williams Lynn Wilroy Sarah Morgan and Walter Wingfield Dancy and Charles Wynne

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2025 Gold Director’s Circle Donors Jane and Andy Adams Laura and Greg Alby Lee and Carter Bailey Melissa and George Ballantyne Harriet Bauknight Vivi and Wayne Beckner Barbara and Mike Boreen Barbie and Ken Boyer Jenny Lynn Bradley Elva and Tom Brady Susan and Jeffrey Byrne Helen and Matt Calvert Catherine Henson and Chris Carpenter Joanne Cheatham Church of the Good Shepherd- Cashiers Linda and Tommy Clark Natalie and Tom Coghill Margina Cogswell Geri and Wade Coleman Kathy and William Cook Denise and Ed Crenshaw KC Cunningham Barbara and Doug DeMaire Alexandra and Michael Denti Candy Denton William DeVane Chris Duffy Martha and Michael Dupuis Clare and Wiley Ellis Patti and Frank Foster Stacy and Reid Freeman

Bobbie and Jonathan Golden Mary Katherine and Tom Greene Anna and Thomas Guffey Laura and Barrie Harmon Ruthie and Bob Harrell Ann and George Hartley Julie Ann and Doug Hartman Patricia and James Hatcher Jo and Jack Hill Teresa and Ed Hocevar Susan Hunt Marianne and Ben Jenkins Courtney and Kyle Jenks Beth and Ethan Johnson Lana Jordan Patty and Mike Kistner Carol and Douglas Lacy Marianne and E.G. Lassiter Judy and William Maner Sallie and John Martin Fran and William Matthews Bill Bush and Bruce McAlpin Cecile McCaull Julie and John McIntyre Beth and Jim Nellis Becca and Godfrey Newton Ellen and Erik Nielsen Dorianne and Drew Norwood Lewis Pollack Karin and Terry Potts Mitzi and Hammond Rauers

Lisa and Bob Reeves Stephanie Edgar and William B. Reeves Emilie and Bruce Reid Karen and Shannon Reid Beth and Dan Riley Linda Benge and Paul Robshaw Ashley and Bill Rogers Robin Russell Anne and Milton Schaeffer Richard Neri and Kurt Schulzman Bev and Wally Seinsheimer Nancy and Tredway Shurling Helene and Rick Siegel Suzann and Robert Soran John Capps and Kenneth Stein Helen Steward Marianne and Robert Strickland Ann and Richard Strub Debbie and Jim Thompson Keller and Sam Torrey Jane and Tom Tracy Kathy and Bestor Ward Virginia and Wilbur Warner Susan and Glenn Warren Jane Webb Linda and Matt Wilson Dian and Tom Winingder Lynne Winship Kay Winzenried Carol and Blake Young

2025 Silver Directors Circle Donors Tricia and Inman Allen Art League of Highlands-Cashiers Carol Attridge Tahnee Bassett Lorena Bayless Joan and Jay Betts Mary Ann and Dick Boger Linda and Hines Brannan Maureen and Kevin Browne Mary and John Burke Ada and Otto Busot Kathleen and Bob Carroll Cashiers Community Fund Ruth and Tom Claiborne Richard Cole Hillary Cone Amy and Cecil Conlee Clair Craver Anne and Clifton Culberson Lyn and John Darden Phyllis D. and Thomas L. Davis Winifred and Tread Davis Ann and John Day Leigh and Melvin Deese Linda and Dick Dickinson Suzanne Dickinson Vevie and Lawrence Dimmitt Linda and Gordon Dixon

Avary and Gerry Doubleday Maggie Douglas Mary and Johnny Dunn Kathy and John Eastman Marjory and Ronald Elliott First Presbyterian Church Patricia and Dean Foor Berty and Victor Fransen Sandy Freeman Linda and Daniel Fuchs Chesley and Lee Garrett Barbara and Sam Gassaway Gwen Greenglass Barbara and Bob Gross Betti and Corb Hankey Laura and Steven Harris Lindy and Robert Harrison Robert Haynes Celeste and Ron Henkelman Carl Romberg and Bret Herbert Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Highlands Community Fund Helen and Comer Hobbs Mike Hogan Beth and Tommy Holder Lila and Slocum Howland Shannon and David Hughs Jane and Clay Jackson

Debby and Kurt Jacobson Barbara and Jim Jamison Joan Johnson Paula Jones Sue and Thornton Jordan Suzanne Guest and James Kimmel Kathy and Kirk Knous Elizabeth and James Landis Jim Landon Alister Brady and Michael Lanzilotta Margaret and John Lauletta Frances and Dennis Leftwich Gage and Mark LeQuire Nancy and Charles Lichtman Billy Love Margaret and Jimmy Lowder Sue and Gary Lowe Nancy and John Ludwig Suzanne and Michael Magalis Jean and Robert Markley Heather McFarlin Dorothy K. McPherson Pam and Bob McTyeire Kathy and Jim Milby Patricia and John Moorehouse Bennie Jo Murray Butchie and Alan Neely Nancy and Lyle Nichols

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2025 Silver Director’s Circle Donors cont...

Andrea Saia Anita Simon Emily Adkins and Ben Smith Peachy and Alwyn Staley Joan and Stan Starnes Rosemary and Bill Stiefel Evelyn and Gene Stutts Ann Sullivan Gail and William Taber Aaron Smith and Brian Tolleson Corbin and Robert Tucker

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Virginia and John Noland Margaret L. Payne Martha and Al Pearson Bonnie and George Pettway Anne Maddrey Carpenter and Peter Portley Alice Quinif Jamie and Brent Raynor Lisa and Bill Richards Jan Roush Jane Roy Edwin Rutherford

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The Background: This giving society is named in recognition of the visionary estate gift made

by Watson Barratt, who founded The Bascom in memory of his wife, Louise Bascom Barratt. The Bascom Legacy Society honors supporters who establish planned gifts through the documentation of The Bascom as a beneficiary in their estate plans. We honor the legacy of the Bascom Barratt family and the legacies of those who come after them through this planned giving society, which was established in 2025.

The Bascom

Legacy Society for planned gifts

Legacy Society Members Frank Langford Jr. Stephanie and Bill Reeves

The Why: Supporters looking toward future support through planned gifts (will, bequest, estate, retirement, life insurance beneficiaries, etc.) help The Bascom look to the future as well with visionary support to assist with master planning and strategic planning.

The How Donors can complete a Statement of Intent with The Bascom to articulate their commitment and desired intent of use of their estate gift. Planned gifts may include The Bascom as a beneficiary of a percentage of the estate or fund or as a predetermined sum of the estate or fund. Providing a Statement of Intent and the signed beneficiary page naming The Bascom qualifies supporters as lifetime members of The Bascom Legacy Society. While planned gifts of all amounts are welcomed, those documenting a planned gift of $10,000 and above will be recognized in The Bascom Legacy Society.

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A Vision Rooted in Building Community and Honoring Legacy For over forty years, The Bascom has inspired and empowered individuals and communities, through seeing, thinking, and doing. As we look toward the next chapter of our story, we are strengthening the foundation that supports our work and ensures that creative connections continue to thrive on the Plateau for generations to come. Informed by more than five years of planning, facilities assessment, and a completed feasibility study, Framing the Future: The Bascom Campaign for Building Community and Honoring Legacy reflects a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to growth that balances artistic vision with financial stewardship and long-term sustainability.

THE TERRACE Key Points •

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•

•

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ENSURES The Bascom remains financially sound while supporting long-term sustainability and resilient revenue streams.

PRIORITIZES enclosing and expanding The Terrace with a minimum of $4M in support to create a year-round gathering space for art, community, and milestone celebrations.

GROWS The Bascom’s endowment with a minimum of $2M in support to sustain free exhibitions, education, and outreach for future generations.

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a comfortable, allweather space while preserving mountain views.

This transformation will ensure consistent access to art, education, and celebration in every season.

The Terrace priority requires a minimum of $4M in private support.

THE ENDOWMENT

A Thoughtful Plan for the Future •

The Terrace serves as a central gathering place for exhibitions, artist talks, festivals, and milestone celebrations.

Canvas walls, lack of climate control, and unpredictable weather limit year-round use.

Enclosing and expanding The Terrace will create

FRAMING the FUTURE

   for     

Framing the Future: The Bascom Campaign for Building Community and Honoring Legacy is a comprehensive campaign, where every gift makes a difference.

The collective impact of philanthropy will provide innumerable opportunities for our communities and the visual arts. Join us today by making a gift of a meaningful amount to you.

Contact The Bascom to discuss giving opportunities through outright gifts or multi year pledges at development@ thebascom.org or by contacting the Director of Development at 828.787.2897.

Key Points • • •

Provides reliable support for free exhibitions, scholarships, residencies, and outreach programs.

Protects the financial stability needed to maintain our campus and expand partnerships.

The endowment priority inspires to reach a minimum of $2M in private gifts to grow sustainable funding in perpetuity.

323 Franklin Road, Highlands, NC 28741 thebascom.org | 828.526.4949

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2024 & 2025 Financials A Letter from our Treasurer I’m pleased to report that The Bascom’s financial position remains strong.

Continued donor support and the vitality of our programming have allowed us to build upon an already solid financial foundation, as reflected in our Statements of Financial Position and Activities. Operating results for 2024 and 2025, before non-cash depreciation expense, were solid and exceeded the Board’s expectations.

We remain committed to executing the Vision and Priorities statement adopted by the Board in 2022, which identified four areas essential to our long-term sustainability: strengthening our programming, attracting and retaining talented staff, growing philanthropic support, and thoughtfully stewarding our campus assets. We have continued to make meaningful progress in each of these areas over the past two years.

Thank you to our donors, volunteers, staff, and community members for your continued support of The Bascom’s mission.

Bill Jump Treasurer

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Condensed Statement of Financial Position At December 31st ASSETS Current Assets: Cash Pledges and Accounts Receivable, Current Other Current Assets Total Current Assets Long-term Assets: Pledges and Accounts Receivable, Long-term Endowment Funds Property and Equipment, Net of Accumulated Depreciation Total Long-term Assets Total Assets

2025*

2024

$ 1,599,733 682,845 52,095 2,334,674

$ 667,167 303,555 47,840 1,018,562

1,121,199 1,669,590 9,312,066 $ 12,102,856 $14,437,530

335,364 1,426,253 9,101,459 10,863,076 $ 11,881,638

$ 170,398 14,267,132 $ 14,437,530

$ 112,587 11,769,051 $ 11,881,638

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Liabilities Net Assets Total Liabilities and Net Assets

If you wish to receive a copy of the 2024 Audited Financial Statements, please contact Holly Alligood, Director of Finance and Administration, at halligood@ thebascom.org.

Please note that the Audited Financial Statements for the year 2025 have not yet been completed. They will be available for distribution once the auditing process is finalized.

* Unaudited

2024 & 2025 Financials cont...

Note Regarding the 2024 and 2025 Financial Statements:

Condensed Statement of Activity For the year ended December 31st REVENUE Contributions, Sponsorships and Grants Program Revenue Special Event Income Retail Revenue, Net of Commissions Paid to Artists Investment Income (Loss) Other Revenue Total Revenue

2025*

2024

$ 4,031,945 288,532 92,790 276,202 239,902 80,816 5,010,186

$ 1,302,651 243,794 144,775 162,868 75,058 44,050 1,973,196

1,022,156 258,616 279,978 110,682 40,390 425,172 $ 2,136,994 $ 2,873,192 375,109 $ 2,498,083

838,342 216,352 324,319 147,619 49,193 316,112 $ 1,891,937 $ 81,259 330,073 ($248,814)

EXPENSES Personnel Contract Labor and Professional Fees Facility Repairs/Maintenance and Utilities Fundraising Events Grants and Scholarships Other Expenses Total Expenses Change in Net Assets before Depreciation Depreciation Change in Net Assets

The increase in revenue and net assets in 2025 was driven in part by the continued generosity of our Barratt Society participants, including strong participation from new members and renewals from the program’s exceptionally successful inaugural year in 2022. We are deeply grateful to all of our donors whose ongoing support makes the organization’s work possible.

Barratt Society commitments are structured as three-year pledges, which under IRS and accounting rules are recognized as revenue in the year the pledge is made.

Contribution revenue in 2025 also included significant early gifts made in advance of the official kickoff of a comprehensive capital campaign.

The organization’s strengthened financial position allowed us to convert certain outsourced and part-time roles into full-time, in-house staff positions—an investment that will further support our long-term capacity and mission.

Bill Jump Treasurer

* Unaudited

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323 Franklin Road | Highlands, NC 28741 828.526.4949 | TheBascom.org

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