Founded in 1961 and now a fully accredited partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the American Alliance of Museums, Piedmont Arts in Martinsville stands as one of the few cultural non‑profits serving Virginia’s Southwest region—acting as a vital nexus for visual arts, performing arts, and education in a community with limited comparable resources.


At the helm of this mission is Heidi Pinkston, the organization’s Executive Director, whose leadership has been instrumental in guiding Piedmont Arts through ambitious initiatives such as the $1 million Growth and Restoration Campaign to fortify infrastructure, expand programming, and enhance sustainability Piedmont Arts. Our conversation explores how Piedmont Arts, under Pinkston’s stewardship, is not only preserving regional cultural heritage but also envisioning a dynamic, inclusive future for the arts in Southwest Virginia.