Bringing the Arts to Life

In Hampshire County,

West Virginia

The Hampshire County Arts Council fosters the creation,  presentation and enjoyment of the arts in our community.


HCAC sees the arts as an integral part of daily life. An art-rich environment enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors and encourages the development, recognition and appreciation of local performers, musicians, artists, and writers.

It's easy... just one click awaySo Easy… Just one click away!!!

Message from the pres – 

Congratulations to this year’s Hampshire County Arts Council College Scholarship recipients, Jennifer Keller and Evie Groves. We wish them well as they begin their studies. HCAC is also pleased to continue the scholarship for Beck Hartmann as she enters her third year at university. These scholarships are awarded each year for students entering or continuing in college as they study a wide variety of arts.

We are celebrating our 6th semester offering the Art Club to students grades 4 through 12. The Arts Council gratefully thanks the Community Foundation for their grants that keep the Art Club going.

For more information email classes@HampshireArts.org or call Dale at 304-.834-8369.


Tiny Studio Concerts Coming Up

Season runs last Sunday of each month through December sponsored by The Arts Council  These programs, in the Honeybee Music Studio Room 206 of the Brannon Building on the WVSDB campus in Romney WV, will feature established local musicians in a variety of genres in an intimate setting, with a small reception following the 3:00 pm Sunday concert and a chance to speak with the artist. October 27 will be Feeling the Autumn with Whisper Valley.

Feeling The Autumn with Whisper Valley, Tiny Studio Concert, Sunday, Oct 27, 3pm

Whisper Valley is a female vocal trio composed of Elizabeth Podsiadlo, Pam Francis and Becky Corbett. Featuring close mountain harmonies accompanied by guitar, harmonica and percussive instruments, their repertoire includes a wide variety of music, from Hazel Dickens to Simon and Garfunkel to old time music to Celtic.  Their “Feeling the Autumn” concert will also include some mountain stories of a rather unusual ilk.

Elizabeth Podsiadlo grew up in WV, then moved around the country, from Chicago to California, where she was influenced by many types of music, from blues to classical.  Known  in the San Diego area as The Opera Singing Chef, she shared her passion for classical music during her cooking classes with live audiences and via television and radio.  Upon moving back to Hampshire County and being inspired by the area’s old-time and bluegrass music, Elizabeth was inspired to produce and record Kaleidoscope, an album of original “American Celtic” tunes with heavy harmonies. Founder and Director of the Honeybee Community Choir, Elizabeth teaches voice and piano in the Honeybee Music Studio in the WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind, and is author of the Cozy Cottage Culinary Ghost Story Mysteries book series.    

Pam Francis is a WV native and a long-time mountain and sacred music singer. For more than fifteen years, she has been part of and now directs the Time Travelers, which performs annually at the Frostburg Appalachian Festival and the Burlington Apple Harvest Festival.  Pam’s signature sound has made her a favorite in the area music community, and she can be found regularly performing at local jams, open mics and concerts, at Time Traveler gigs, and as a charter member of the Honeybee Community Choir.  

A Celtic singer with a classical background, Becky Corbett  sang with classical choruses in Rhode Island prior to moving to Hampshire County in 2011,  A charter member (and occasional guest director) of the Honeybee Community Choir, Becky also has headed the Music Ministry as Choir Director at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Romney since 2013. She can find her groove in any vocal harmony line and enjoys focusing on the little things, like making sure everyone is breathing in the same spots, and singing the right words.

VERY IMPORTANT: By reservation only, limited to 30 seats (note “Tiny” concerts). The programs are free, but a tip jar will be available for supporting the artist(s) and they will be offered the opportunity to sell their recordings.

For more info or to make a reservation, email music@HampshireArts.org or call Elizabeth Podsiadlo at 858-547-8620.


Best Production Yet!

The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) brought their play Pinocchio to the WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind July 8-12, 2024 . The cast of 23 was approximately half WVSDB students and half homeschool and public school students. Two MCT producer/ directors – Abby and Jillian – brought  all the costumes and sets and trained the cast in just 5 days to put on the show Saturday, the 13th. There was no cost to the children who participated or to the 150+ people who came to enjoy the performance.  Many in the audience pronounced it the best show yet, with several return participants displaying increased confidence.
This project was sponsored as a community service by the Hampshire County Arts Council with support from the Hampshire County Community Foundation, the Nora Roberts Foundation, the Koolwink Motel and a grant from the WV Dept. of Arts, Culture and History that got us started with our first production in 2022. 

For more about the Missoula Children’s Theatre go to https://mctinc.org

For questions about our production, email theatre@HampshireArts.org or call Dale at 304-834-8369.


Art in Public Places

We are always looking for new artists and celebrating our favorites. 

With the support of local businesses, you can see who is doing what at the following locations

  • FNB Romney, 105 N. High St, Romney, Deborah Gay exhibit of oil paintings and linoleum prints to November 21.
    Oil Paintings & Linoleum Prints by Deborah Gay at FNB Romney, to November 21Oil paintings by Deborah Gay
  • Hampshire County Public Library, 153 N. High St, Romney, Rodney Swick exhibit of Movie Monsters and Other Scary Stuff  to November 1.
  • Rodney Swick's Movie Monsters & Other Creepy Stuff at Hampshire County Public Library thru Nov 1, 2024

For more music, art and fun nearby, check these venues —

The Hampshire County Co-op & Heritage Marketplace in Romney WV

The River House in Capon Bridge WV

The Cat and The Fiddle in Capon Bridge WV offers classes

The Purple Fiddle in Thomas WV

The Allegany Arts Council in Cumberland Md offers a wide variety of events.

Thank You!

The Hampshire County Arts Council sincerely thanks our faithful sponsors whose contributions allow us to offer the community many events each year.

Donald Brewster
The Bank of Romney
Kristen Colebank
James & Janis Dodgins
FNB Bank
Lois Groves
Lark Hallum
Hampshire County Community Foundation

Lisa & Daniel Hileman
Barb & Rick Hillenbrand
Dottie Eddis & Lowell Hott
Dorothy Kengla
Koolwink Motel
Sydney & Edward Maurer
Susie & Gil Meyer
Nora Roberts Foundation

Ruth and Tom Rowan

Rick Schneider
Steve Settimir

Pat Slifer

Daniel Staggers
Nancy & Gene Williams
WV Dept. of Arts, Culture and History
And thank you to all who donate support of their time and more.


  Time to Renew Memberships

The Hampshire County Arts Council’s membership year runs from April 1 through March 31 each year, with membership renewal in April. On-Line Renewal is available by clicking the Join/Renewal Online Button or mail your check to Hampshire County Arts Council, P.O. Box 624, Romney, WV  26757.

Your Donations are Appreciated

The Hampshire County Arts Council values our sponsors that are dedicated to continuing the art culture in and around Hampshire County.  On-Line Donations are accepted by clicking the Donate Button or by mailing your check to Hampshire County Arts Council, P.O. Box 624, Romney, WV, 26757.Saturday, Aug. 26,20