Sementha Mathews

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has received a transformative $500,000 grant from the Atlanta-based Lettie Pate Evans Foundation to advance the development of the Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station—an innovative community resource designed to spark creativity, learning, and exploration for children and families throughout South Georgia.

The Turner Center for the Arts proudly announces that Kimberly Cliett has been named the Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station Director. Cliett will serve as a visionary leader in the highly anticipated launch of the Imagination Station in May 2026, a state-of-the-art interactive learning space designed to introduce youth ages 7–12 and their families to Georgia’s diverse industries, career pathways, and essential workforce skills. Read More

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is proud to announce it has been awarded a $96,000 matching grant from the Levitt Foundation to continue the highly successful Levitt AMP Valdosta Music Series through 2026, 2027, and 2028. This multi-year grant will support another three seasons of free, outdoor concerts at the Turner Center Art Park, enriching the cultural landscape of Valdosta and surrounding communities.

Have you ever dreamed of writing a book? Imagined capturing the rich history of your family, business, or hometown in print? Or envisioned a world of your own creation brought to life between the covers of a book bearing your name?

The 2025 Turner Center Literary Fair, on Saturday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is everyone’s opportunity to take a meaningful step toward those dreams. Designed to connect aspiring writers with seasoned authors, the Literary Fair bridges the gap between imagination and publication. Read More

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is proud to be identified nationally as a Blue Star Museum. Through a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, and in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America, the Turner Center continues to offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserve. 

The Lowndes-Valdosta Arts Commission, Inc., d/b/a the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, is seeking outstanding community members with a passion for the arts to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members serve a three-year term, with the option of serving an additional three-year term.

Several opportunities are still available for artists who were financially impacted by recent hurricane events. Application procedures for the two funding opportunities below are easily accessible.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts has entered a partnership with Mercer University to provide Visualization Training for Mercer’s third-and-fourth-year medical students. The Turner Center joins art establishments in Savannah, Macon, and Columbus in providing this innovative clinical training that uses the arts to build visual literacy, enhance clinical observation methods, encourage collaboration, and boost communication skills.