Casey Van Nortwick

Halee King, a 2^nd grade J. L. Lomax Elementary School student, has won the Turner Center for the Arts 2025 Spring into Art Invitation Design Contest. King’s work will be featured on the Center’s 38^th Annual Spring into Art Exhibition Opening Gala invitation and tickets. She will receive a free youth class, as well as free tickets to and special recognition at the Opening Gala on Monday, April 7, 6-9 p.m. The contest was open to all area students grades K-5. King’s work is on display through March 19 at the Turner Center galleries, 527 N. Patterson St., as a part of the Center’s Annual Youth Art Month Exhibition. For more information or to purchase tickets to Spring into Art, visit turnercenter.org or call 229.247.2787.

One of the Annette Howell Turner Center’s most popular programs is Ceramics. Instructor Taylor Nalley leads monthly workshops for youth and adults at the Center, and she describes how ceramics gives her community and the joy of inspiring others.

The Turner Center for the Arts is offering Glassblowing Workshops and Experiences with artist James Downey. Registration is open for ages 12+ to enroll in these beginner-friendly classes, where students receive hands-on experience as they shape molten glass. Classes are available as one-hour and 30-minute sessions on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the month of February only. All classes are located at the Richard Hill Glass Studio, 506 N. Ashley St., on the Turner Center’s campus.

For two years, Michelle Klein has regularly enrolled her three homeschooled children – Levi, Savanna, and Ezra – in art classes and camps at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. She shares how these programs involve them in unique experiences that spark their creativity.

Youth ages 5-12 received a one-day experience in art education during the holidays through the Turner Center’s 2024/2025 Youth Winter Art Camps, held on the Turner Center campus.

The Turner Center for the Arts has extended the entry deadline for the 5th Annual Art of Writing Contest to Wed., Jan. 22, 2025.

The Turner Center for the Arts and the Young Writers League (YoWL) are seeking fiction, non-fiction, and poetry entries for the 5th Annual Art of Writing Contest. The contest is open to middle and high school students in fifth through twelfth grades in Georgia and the surrounding states. The entry deadline is Sat., Jan. 11, 2025. A theme that inspires young people to express themselves concerning important topics is chosen each year. The theme for 2025 is “Courage.”

Some of the Annette Howell Turner Center’s longstanding programs are literary arts offerings. Dr. Cheryl Carvajal leads the free writers leagues for youth and adults at the Turner Center weekly and assists with coordinating the Turner Center’s annual “Art of Writing” contest. She describes how writing has shaped her life and how writing can inspire others.

Kreea Chakraborty has participated and placed in three of the Turner Center’s Annual “Art of Writing” Contests. Each contest awards $2,500 in cash prizes and the opportunity to be published to regional middle and high school students for works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Chakraborty is a testimony for how the Turner Center’s literary programming has progressed her writing as both an art and a skill.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts hosted the 2024 Literary Fair on Sat., Sept. 14, from 10am to 2pm at the Turner Center Galleries located at 527 N. Patterson St. The event, which was sponsored by Snake Nation Press, Share the Magic Foundation, and Hughston Clinic, hosted more than 20 authors. These authors gave informative talks, as well as signing and selling their works. South Georgia Regional Library featured their short story cube at the event, free books by Malcom Mitchell were provided to area youth and families, and the Turner Center formally announced the 5^th Annual “Art of Writing” contest for area youth. The next Literary Fair will be hosted by the Turner Center on Sat., Sept. 13, 2025.