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Sementha Mathews

Turner Center for the Arts Nominated for Best of Georgia Award

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Community Invited to Vote and Help Turner Center Earn Statewide Recognition

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has been nominated for a Best of Georgia Award through the Georgia Business Journal, and the community is invited to show its support by voting for the Turner Center within the Arts & Entertainment category, Art Galleries.

The annual Best of Georgia Awards recognize outstanding businesses and organizations across the state, with winners selected primarily through public voting. The program celebrates the businesses, organizations, and services that make communities across Georgia special—from restaurants and healthcare providers to professional services, entertainment, and the arts.

“This nomination is a heartfelt reflection of the support our community has shown the Turner Center for the Arts,” said Executive Director Sementha Mathews, Ph.D. “Our Campus is an essential cultural hub to engage all forms of art, gather, learn, create, experience live entertainment, discover new ideas, and connect. We would be honored to have our community help us share the Turner Center story across Georgia.”

The Turner Center has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, expanding its facilities, programs, educational opportunities, exhibitions, partnerships, and community impact. Today, the Turner Center Campus encompasses six unique facilities, including the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Annette and Darry Crosby Art Annex, Leona and Dugald Hudson Pottery Studio, Richard Hill Glass Studio, Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station, and the Art Park. Together, the Turner Center Campus provides opportunities for people of all ages to experience visual arts, performing arts, education, creativity, and community.

How to Vote

Voting is open 24 hours a day through October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Community members can vote for the Turner Center in the Arts & Entertainment, Art Galleries, category at: https://gbj.com/best-of/vote/arts-entertainment

Voting is free, and supporters are encouraged to share the voting opportunity with friends, family, colleagues, and others who believe the arts make a difference in the quality of life of our community.

“Whether someone has visited one of our galleries, attended a concert, brought their children to the Imagination Station, participated in a class, enjoyed the Art Park, or simply believes in the importance of the arts in our community, we invite them to cast a vote,” Mathews said. “Every vote is an expression of support for what the arts contribute to Valdosta and the surrounding region.”

The Turner Center encourages supporters to vote, share the opportunity, and invite others to participate before the October 31 deadline. For more information about the Turner Center, visit www.turnercenter.org.

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Turner Center Invites Community to Annual Clean-Up Day Ahead of Children’s Imagination Station Opening

By News

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is calling on community members to roll up their sleeves and join in its Annual Clean-Up Day on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This year’s event carries special significance as volunteers will help prepare the grounds for the highly anticipated opening of the Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station.

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Turner Center for the Arts Launches “Tracks to the Future” Fundraising Campaign in Support of Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station

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The Turner Center for the Arts is proud to announce the launch of its April fundraising campaign, “Tracks to the Future,” in support of the upcoming Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station, set to open on May 23, 2026.

This month-long campaign invites the community to invest in the future of local youth by helping fund final expenses for the highly anticipated Imagination Station—an innovative, 10,000 sq. ft. interactive space designed to inspire creativity, exploration, and career awareness among children across South Georgia.

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Turner Center Launches 4th Season of Free Live Music through the Levitt AMP Valdosta Music Series

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Join us for 8 Weekly FREE Outdoor Concerts, March 14 – May 8

The Turner Center for the Arts launches its fourth season of the Levitt AMP Valdosta Music Series on Saturday, March 14, with Country artist Mark Taylor at the Azalea Festival, Noon-4 p.m. The March 14 concert will kick off eight consecutive weeks of FREE, live music events for the community.

Lionel Young playing Levitt AMP in 2025
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Turner Center for the Arts and VSU Host “The Strange Case of Lady Liberty”

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The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, in partnership with Valdosta State University, will present The Strange Case of Lady Liberty, a free America250 program exploring the hidden history of the Statue of Liberty, in observance of Black History Month. The performances begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 in the Turner Center galleries and on Feb. 17 in the VSU Odum Library Auditorium.

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