Rappahannock County has become a destination for those who love the arts and is home for those who create them. The county's lushly forested mountains and bucolic countryside offer solitude for reflection, provide inspiration for the creative process and generate a sense of renewal and energy. This unique combination has fostered a community that is culturally rich and diverse.

Nationally recognized artists display their original works of art, including paintings, sculptures, pottery, glassworks, forged iron, jewelry, photography, textiles and other forms of creative expression, in the galleries of Washington, Sperryville and Flint Hill, as well as in their private studios that are open by appointment. Each year, the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and the Community, known to locals as RAAC, sponsors the Artists of Rappahannock Studio & Gallery Tour during the first weekend in November. Nature's incredible palate of colors paints the Blue Ridge Mountains, which serve as a backdrop for works of art created by Rappahannock County's many talented artists. More than 50 new and returning artists show new creations each year, either in their private home studios, open to the public during the tour only, or at professional galleries in the villages. Pick up your map to adventure at the Fire Hall in Little Washington and explore back roads to hidden treasures of art. The Studio & Gallery Tour has become a weekend adventure for visitors from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Now celebrating its 25th year as a focal point in the community for enrichment through the arts, RAAC also sponsors concerts, plays and other art-oriented community events, including the Friday Night Film Series at The Theater at Washington and the Second Friday at the Library series of lectures by authors, thought leaders and other notables, many of whom have chosen to make Rappahannock their home.

The performing arts also can be a part of your experience in Rappahannock County. On most Saturday evenings during the fall, winter and spring seasons, The Theater at Washington features professional musical performances from classical concerts to jazz, contemporary and bluegrass. The Ki Theatre sponsors a variety of theater experiences through Ki Community Arts, Life Stories workshops, songwriting workshops and Kid Pan Alley.

Tucked in the majestic countryside is Castleton Farms, home to New York Philharmonic Music Director Lorin Maazel and his wife, Dietlinde. Together, under the auspices of the Chȃteauville Foundation that they founded 10 years ago, the Maazels have nurtured the arts in Rappahannock County. Locals and visitors alike may enjoy original performances by world-renowned musical and dramatic artists in the comfort of the intimate, state-of-the-art, 130-seat Theatre House. Most recently, the Maazels expanded the foundation's work with the creation of the Castleton Residency, which features a fully-staged chamber opera production for young artists (see www.chateauville.org).

New to Rappahannock in 2007 is the Rappahannock Repertory Company. The company presents creative productions through a partnership of local amateur and professional talent of all ages. A major focus of the company is to provide theater opportunities (acting and supporting) for youths of all ages. Performances are held at the historic Sperryville Schoolhouse. A performance calendar may be found online at www.raac.org.

The performing arts in Rappahannock can be as informal and spontaneous as the numerous "pickin' parties" held at the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department or at Hackley's Country Store on a Saturday night in the summer or a poetry reading sponsored by Ki Theatre during the chilly months of winter. Bring your guitar or banjo, write your own verse or life story and join in the fun. Throughout the seasons, whether created by man or by nature, Rappahannock is a destination that fosters and thrives on the arts.