The United Way of Colquitt County and The Colquitt County Arts Center are partners in providing a variety of enriching opportunities for all ages in our community. Thanks to the community’s support of the United Way Campaign, the Arts Center and many other worthy organizations in town receive funding to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors. I would like to share with you how the Arts Center uses United Way Funding to do just that.  

Let’s begin with our youngest program group. The United Way Education Grant funds the Arts Center’s Art Books Children (ABC) at 2 head start programs in our county- Culbertson Head Start and Telemon Migrant Education Head Start- serving approximately 110 students. An instructor from the Arts Center visits each class, reads a book then leads the children through an art activity to explore the story further. At the end of each month a book is sent home with an art activity and all supplies and instructions for parents and children to engage as a family in the learning process.

Art in the Afternoon, part of the YMCA Primetime after school program serves 540 students in Elementary Schools in the county. Arts Center Instructors lead the students in basic art education through a series of fun arts projects. All supplies and instructional support are provided thanks to United Way funding.

Our After School Enrichment Program at the RD Smith Youth Center serves about 60 students providing instruction in music, drumming and art.

In the summer our eight weeks of Fine Arts Summer Camps serve over 250 students and provide leadership opportunities for 18 teen team leaders. Each Elementary school is offered 15 scholarships to grant to deserving students to attend the week of their choice. Students are also provided breakfast and lunch through the Boys & Girls Club Summer Feeding Program.

Our Holiday Family Theater production provides 40 plus students and adults the opportunity to participate in a production at no cost and the performance is free to the public. This year’s production CELEBRATE the Season will take the stage on Monday, December 17th at 7 PM and will include skits, songs, dance, musicians, the Arts Center show choir and soloists from the community. Doors open at 6:30 for this performance.

Our Senior Adult Painting class offers our more mature artists an opportunity to gather and sharpen their skills at a greatly reduced rate and includes all supplies. The 10 students in this class enjoy the social time as they create together each week.

Currently the Arts Center provides art demonstrations and instruction at 3 local Senior Living Facilities for about 45 participants. We hope to expand this program into more facilities in the future.

United Way funding provides Scholarship assistance with about 7% of all Arts Center students receiving financial support at some level.

In 2019 we anticipate adding new programming including arts enrichment for women and children residents of Serenity House. We also hope to provide Art Instruction for Green Oaks clients and expand our partnership with NAMI by offering quarterly NAMI Nights of programming at the Arts Center.

The Arts Center strives to be a good steward of United Way Funding and constantly seeks new and innovative ways to take arts education and enrichment out of the building and into the community it serves.

If you did not have the opportunity to make a contribution during the recent United Way campaign, it’s never too late! Drop by the United Way office at the Chamber of Commerce and make a donation. Your money will be well invested!

For more information about Arts Center programming and becoming a Patron of the Arts, call the Arts Center at 985-1922,  check us out on Facebook or our website – colquittcountyarts.com. Or better yet- drop by and see for yourself what the Arts Center has to offer.

Now through December 21st the Vereen Gallery is full of wonderful art, wood turned bowls, and jewelry, one of a kind paintings and so much more crafted by local and regional artisans for your holiday shopping.