Sementha Mathews

The Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. will be streamed on the PAAC Facebook page for community engagement.

The purpose of PAAC is to further the purchase, creation and appreciation of public art for its aesthetic value to the community. The PAAC also encourages the preservation and protection of works of public art which play a vital role in the economic development of the community.

PAAC meets on the third Thursday of each month, and meetings are open to the public. For more information about the PAAC, call 229-247-2787.

Because we care. 

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has implemented changes to its Spring Into Art Exhibition on account of the COVID-19, by canceling its Spring Into Art Gala which draws more than 800 visitors in one evening and by adding safety precautions to the free public exhibition that draws in thousands over the six-week period. Read More

The Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2020, has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 21, at 11:30 a.m., in the second-floor board room of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, located at 527 N. Patterson Street.

The purpose of PAAC is to further the purchase, creation and appreciation of public art for its aesthetic value to the community. The PAAC also encourages the preservation and protection of works of public art which play a vital role in the economic development of the community.

For more information about the PAAC, call 229-247-2787.

The Turner Center for the Arts has rescheduled the opening of the 33^rd Annual Spring into the Art Exhibition to Monday, May 11, allowing artists an additional four weeks to create outstanding works of art that the community has come to expect at this event.

“We have adjusted our schedules—as everyone is having to do—on account of the coronavirus pandemic and in consideration for the health and safety of others,” said Executive Director Sementha Mathews. “In the weeks ahead, we will continue to monitor conditions and will make additional adjustments as necessary.”

Spring Into Art, the Turner Center’s largest exhibition and fundraiser of the year, traditionally features more than 200 regional artists and showcases more than 400 original works of art. The entries will be accepted and displayed within the Turner Center’s elegant gallery space at 527 N. Patterson Street. All artwork will be available for purchase and are eligible to win award prizes totaling $6,000.

The artist entry deadline is Thursday, April 16, and the entry fee is $40 for one piece or $60 for two. Delivery of the art work is scheduled for April 23-25 and 27-28.

“We have received a flood of calls and emails from artists concerned about the original scheduling of Spring Into Art. The outreach has shown us that the artists, for whom the exhibit was created to support, have strong desires to continue this annual tradition,” said Curator Bill Shenton. “We are so grateful for the artists’ continued support and participation in Spring Into Art, and we look forward to celebrating the art in life with our community on May 11.”

The Center is also currently welcoming sponsors for the 33^rd annual event. All Spring Into Art sponsors are listed in the exhibit program, on the walls of the Turner Center galleries, on the Center’s website, and in other printed and online materials to show appreciation for their commitment to the arts.

Additional information about artist deadlines, sponsorship opportunities and revised Spring Into Art schedule may be found at here.

In consideration for the health and safety of our patrons and guests, the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has cancelled all of its classes through March 28. All facilities are closed; however, staff is accessible by phone and email and all center-related information is posted at www.turnercenter.org.

We’ve been keeping up with the troubling news of how quickly and severely the Coronavirus is spreading, and we are trying to figure out how to keep our doors “open” while keeping them shut. Beginning today, Turner Center staff will post daily art engagement activities to keep our homebound audiences of all ages entertained and engaged via social media and website posts. We thank our local artists and art teachers who are also supplying us with inspiring information to share with you. We hope it will bless you as much as it does us to serve you.

According to the Americans for the Arts, the arts are fundamental to our humanity. They inspire us and foster creativity, goodness and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community, strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times.

As always, thank you for your support. Most importantly, please be safe as you make your own decisions for personal health and safety. Our community will endure this, as we’ve done many other incidents, by praying and working together.