The mission of the Arts Center is to serve a diverse community with quality visual and performing arts and we started 2020 off with a bang!

Derek Dove and the Peacekeepers were awesome and Mario the Maker Magician was quite possibly the most entertaining individual I have ever seen! We have painted windows, created stained glass, held an Open Studio for All evening, and started painting bowls for the Empty Bowl Soup Lunch, begun work on the Black History Celebration for February and started working on our annual ARToberfest to be held in October. We truly hit the ground running following the holidays!

And we have so much more in store! 

The Volunteer Arts Alliance 29th Annual Hunt Dinner is Friday, February 7th and it is going to be a fabulous evening. In addition to a delicious meal catered by Stewbo’s Merry Acres of Albany, there will be a silent and live auction with a variety of art, hunting trips and so much more. In addition to that there is a raffle for cash prizes-and you don’t have to be present to win. Tickets for the dinner and raffle tickets can be purchased at the Arts Center. 

Rio Davies art is being featured at The Square Restaurant downtown- we are so grateful to Philip Viohl for partnering with us to create this extension of the Arts Center galleries into the community. Tom Bishop is featured in the Arts Center’s Traverse Gallery and his work is breathtaking. And Vivian Jendzio is the featured artist for our annual Hunt Dinner event. Her work is amazing and will be on display in the Vereen gallery until March 20th. All of these, plus our permanent exhibits, are free for the public to enjoy daily.

Make a chunky blanket — no needles necessary! Join us Monday, February 10th from 6-8 PM. All materials provided with a variety of colors to choose from- first come first served! Cost is $50 person and there is a limit of 8 for this workshop. Deadline to register is February 5th.

David Hawkins and The Just Passing Though Band featuring Meg Bishop singing Patsy Cline will take the stage for two performances in mid-February. Performances will be Saturday, February 15th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 16th at 2:30 PM. All tickets are $10 for this talented group performing bluegrass, gospel and country. Just Passing Through features vocalist David Hawkins on Steel Guitar, Donna McGill on Piano, DeWayne Stone on Bass Guitar and Jody Williams on Drums. Many of you will remember Meg (Kennedy) Bishop from her previous stage appearances as Patsy. 

Mark your calendars now for Strings and Keys with world renowned violinist and pianist William Hagen and Albert Cano Smit. Tuesday, February 18th at Trinity Baptist church beginning at 7 PM. These two talented musicians will be coming to us following a performance in Barcelona, Spain. We are so very blessed to have musicians of this in our community. William has family ties in our community as he is the cousin of Daniel Dunn and Deanna Isaacs. Thanks to Daniel Dunn for making the arrangements for us and to Moultrie based Edward Jones Financial Advisors for sponsoring the event. All tickets are $15 and traffic has already been brisk for this concert. 

The next Stained Glass workshop will be February 25th from 6-7:30 PM. Come and try your hand at this beautiful art discipline. All first time participants will make a small angel to learn how to cut glass, grind and foil and finally solder to complete the piece. Cost is $25 person and the class is open to students 15 & up. If the process is something you want to continue to enjoy you can participate in our open studio each Tuesday evening and create a piece of your choice from a set of beginner pattern options for only $25 month plus your cost of glass, foil and solder. All tools are at your disposal. Space is limited to 6 participants.

Sunday, February 23rd  we will Celebrate Black History Month through story, song and visual presentations. More on this wonderful community event as details are worked out.

MATILDA the Musical is the next offering for our children and youth theater program with auditions in the ballroom on Thursday, February 27th from 5:30-7:00 PM.  Students in K-12th Grades are encouraged to audition. No previous stage experience is necessary. 

Come and make a Fabric Woven Basket Saturday. March 7th 10 AM until Noon.  Using a clothesline and strips of scrap fabric you will create a beautiful basket! Participants will need to provide a sewing machine with zig zag stitch and light grey thread required. Clothesline and fabric scraps provided. $30 person Deadline to register is March 2nd.

Leap Into Abstraction Saturday, February 29th from 10 AM until Noon with Instructor Kim Yarbrough. In this class, designed for beginners as well as pros, participants will explore and learn techniques to create their very own abstract/non-objective mixed media paintings using a variety of materials including fabric, wax, sand, and paint. Workshop is open to ages 16 years and older due to safety issues with hot wax. All supplies are included and the fee is $35 per participant. Deadline to register and pay for class is February 25th.

Hip Hop Line Dance is coming your way! Get energized with a fun and easy hip hop class with Melissa Caldwell. Follow the steps and get your groove on!   Wear comfy loose clothes and tennis shoes or dance shoes.

Saturday, March 14th from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Workshop is open to students 18 years old and up and is $30 per participant. 

Don’t see something you are interested in?  Give us a call and we will do our very best to make it happen! Your Colquitt County Arts Center- where creativity finds community!