As I write this article it is Thursday evening 5:30ish at the Arts Center. Children are dancing and singing in the dance studio just down the hall from the office in rehearsal for HONK, JR., a delightful musical spin on the tale of The Ugly Duckling. The theme of the show is accepting the fact that we are all different and we should celebrate those differences. Performances will be the first weekend in March so mark your calendars now for this great family evening of entertainment.

Ken Collier and I met earlier to set the rehearsal schedule for the Valentine Dessert Theater performance of MARRY ME A LITTLE, a delightful one-act musical performed in an intimate setting in the ballroom. Tickets are available now for this entertaining evening and are limited due to space so you will want to get yours soon! It truly is a delightful way to spend Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart or a group of friends.

In the large art studio 25 ladies are gathering to paint a bird’s nest on canvas. This is part of our Last Thursday series where a different artist each month shares a new skill or project in a workshop format. We even had several ladies drive over from Bainbridge to participate.

On stage, preparations are being made for a dance performance Saturday night by the Southwest Georgia Ballet. Dressing rooms are being cleaned, sets are being painted and the dance floor is being rolled into place.

On further down the hall are the strains of piano, string, voice, and guitar and drum students perfecting their musical talent.

When I walk out of the office I can see directly into the Vereen Gallery and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the International Craft Exhibit. I will enjoy this view until the end of March. I hope you will take time to come and enjoy it too. I am super excited about the next exhibit coming our way. Hometown Teams, a traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit made possible through a partnership with the Georgia Humanities will open the end of April. This exhibit will not only showcase sports in America but gives us the opportunity to highlight how sports have shaped our community as well. This will be a community wide effort and celebration as we are one of 12 cities in the state of Georgia to host this interactive exhibit.

Beginning Monday the building will be a flurry of activity as the Volunteer Arts Alliance makes preparations for the 26th Annual Hunt Dinner and Auction Fund Raiser. Tickets are still available for this great evening and this year the meal will be catered by one of our own- Chef Jim Jeffords. Auctions items include guided hunts, beach trips and original art work just to name a few. There is a raffle for a 3 day 2 night stay at the Cloister at Sea Island and includes a golf package or $500 spending money. You do not have to be present to win the raffle. Come and enjoy this casual evening and support the Arts Center.

Wow, I feel like I need to stop and take a breath! Anyone who says there is nothing to do in Colquitt County has not been to the Arts Center lately. In addition to the many ongoing classes and workshops offered, we are developing open studio time for artists to work on their own schedule in ceramics/pottery studio, Pick and Paint, Stained Glass and Weaving.

I encourage you to call, come by or at the very least check out our website for more information. If you see something you would like to do that isn’t offered at a convenient time for you – gather up a group of friends and we will build a class for you. The Colquitt County Arts Center truly is where creativity finds community!