The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is a premier regional arts center located in downtown Valdosta, Georgia, offering a wide variety of art experiences to citizens of Valdosta, Lowndes and surrounding Georgia and North Florida counties. The six light-filled galleries offer a diverse selection of works by regional and national artists in approximately 30 exhibits annually. Two of the galleries house permanent collections, including a 600-piece East African art collection and over 30 pieces of antique European Fine Porcelain. With its state-of-the-art kitchen, the Center is available for private rental for events such as wedding receptions and business gatherings. The Center also features a gift shop with one-of-a-kind items created by local artists, including pottery, jewelry, prints, original works of art, note cards, books, stained glass, wood carvings and much more.
OUR HISTORY
The earliest organized support for the arts in Valdosta began in 1903 with the City Opera House, the previous occupant of the former Lee Street Baptist Church. In the 1920s, a group known as “The Videttes” met at City Hall, then located at Hill Ave. and Ashley St. The group grew in size and influence through the years, becoming known as “Arts, Inc.” and meeting in various churches, schools and homes with the goal of promoting the arts in the region.
The Lowndes-Valdosta Arts Commission was chartered in 1962 as an outgrowth of Arts, Inc. It was reorganized in 1978 as a private non-profit corporation. Following a successful campaign in 1993, LVAC purchased and renovated the former First State Bank and Trust building. Former Georgia Senator Loyce Turner gave a significant gift to the center to be named in memory of his late wife, Annette Howell Turner. The new center was completed in April 2003 and houses six galleries in 17,000 square feet of space. In addition, the center houses two classrooms, a meeting room, a gift shop showcasing local and regional artists’ works and a state-of-the-art kitchen for culinary classes. The center has also become an integral gathering place for social, business and nonprofit functions.
STOP IN FOR A VISIT
Location
527 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601
Hours of Operation
Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday and Monday, CLOSED
Sementha Mathews
Executive Director
Bill Shenton
Artistic Administrator
Roy Fricks
Office Administrator
2019-2020 Lowndes/Valdosta Arts Commission Board of Directors
Jeani Synyard – President
Bruce Smith – Vice President
Wm. Al Turner, Esq. – Treasurer
Tina Folsom, Esq. – Secretary
Jennifer Alvarez
Beverley R. Blake
Stephanie Blevins
Jane Burgsteiner
Stefani Carroll
Jennifer Carter
Cheryl Copeland
Michele Corbitt
Annette Crosby
Gail Hobgood
Dr. J. Stephen Lahr
Allen Lehmann
Nancy McGee
Cheryl Oliver
Michelle Patten
Carla Penny
Jennifer Powell
Sally Turner Querin
Frank Richards
Roni King Strickland
Bruce Sumner
Mala Vallotton
Archie Waldron
Steven S. Walker
Nancy Warren
2019-20 Center for the Arts Guild Members
Janice Baker
Rosemary Brannen
Jane Burgsteiner, President
Jennifer Carter
Susan Crago
Linda Grondahl
Leah Harrison
Sallie Honeycutt
Sherrill Lahr
Margaret Mittiga
Brooke Moreno
Missy Sherwood
Cathie Smith
Sarah Soshnik
Helen Tucker, Past President
Julie Van Ham
McCree Woodall
Board Members Emeritus
Lena Bosch
Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, disability or sexual orientation. It is the policy of the center to comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity. In keeping with that policy, the center is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Accordingly, the center will not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of any of our employees or others present at our facilities by anyone, including any supervisor, co-worker, vendor, client or customer of the center.