BANRÌGH (pronounced Bahn-ree) is an ensemble of Celtic harpers, who hail from various locales in the south and eastern United States. The name, Banrìgh is Scots Gaelic for “Queen”. Indeed the beautiful music of Banrìgh is a royal tribute to traditional Celtic music and culture. Sharing a love for this music and the Celtic harp, the members have performed and traveled throughout Scandinavia, the British Isles, and the USA together for the past decade as part of the ensemble, “Harpa”. In April, 2023 six members of Banrìgh performed by invitation at the prestigious Edinburgh International Harp Festival, where they were received with high acclaim. The individual harpers of Banrìgh come from diverse musical backgrounds, but their combined talents delight audiences everywhere they perform.

OUR MISSION

Ashe County Arts Council exists to enrich the cultural life of the region by nurturing and supporting the arts.

The Arts Council offers leadership, collaboration & growth through the arts. The ACAC operates two facilities in Ashe County. A historic WPA building, the Ashe Arts Center, in downtown West Jefferson, houses the offices for the Arts Council, The Gallery, & Gallery Shop. The Ashe Civic Center, a 282 seat theatre space, also serves as the home of the Ashe County Little Theatre. These 2 facilities offer numerous options for arts programming.  In addition to offering year-round art experiences in these spaces, Ashe County Arts Council offers programming at other sites such as the public school systems, the Ashe Park, the West Jefferson Farmers Market, and other community spaces.