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The Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) will meet on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will take place 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.

Dreams of a luxurious Viking River Cruise for two is within reach, made possible through an Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts fundraiser to expand its Youth Art Programs. One lucky person will win a spectacular vacation for two on an 8-day Viking River Cruise, valued at $7,298, with a choice of either an eight-day Rhine Getaway Cruise or Danube Waltz Cruise to be enjoyed by the end of year 2019.

Sponsored by Viking River Cruises and South Georgia Travel, the Cruising for the Arts fundraiser will kick off at a reception on Monday, July 23, from 5-7 p.m., at the Turner Center, located at 527 N. Patterson Street. The event will feature information about the highly-respected Viking brand vacation getaways, special vacation discounts and door prizes, as well as complimentary food, beer and wine.

Raffle tickets will be sold from July 23 – Sept. 17, 2018 for $20 each or six tickets for $100. Tickets may be purchased at the July 23 reception, from any staff member at the Turner Center for the Arts, or from any Lowndes-Valdosta Art Commission (LVAC) Board member. All proceeds will support the Turner Center’s Youth Art Programs and the renovation of the center’s Annex, located at 601 N. Patterson Street. Once renovated, the Annex will supplement the Turner Center by providing the necessary space for additional youth art education classes and other youth activities.

The fundraiser is part of the Viking Cultural Exchange Program, an initiative to support the arts and make a difference in communities nationwide.

“The Turner Center is extremely grateful to Viking River Cruises and South Georgia Travel for this generous support for the arts in our area,” said Sementha Mathews, Executive Director for the Turner Center for the Arts. “The much-needed renovation of the Annex will provide youth art education opportunities for years to come and will support the welcomed and growing interest in the arts. We invite everyone to ‘Cruise for the Arts’ with us and positively impact our local arts community.”

The Cruising for the Arts drawing will be held on Sept. 17, 2018 at the Gallery Opening Reception featuring the artistic works of Ronald Zaccari. In addition to the cruise tickets, several other tickets for prizes such as Presenter Series season tickets, class vouchers, and Art Gift Certificates, etc. will be drawn at the event.

The Turner Center for the Arts is a 2017 recipient of the Governor’s Awards for the Arts & Humanities and is dedicated to enhancing the Valdosta-Lowndes County area and the surrounding region through cultural enrichment, art education and entertainment. The main facility is located at 527 N. Patterson Street and includes six art galleries, two art classrooms, two music classrooms, administrative offices and a gift shop. The art campus also includes the Pottery Studio located at 104 Webster Street and the Annex located at 601 N. Patterson Street. The non-profit, membership organization hosts seven impressive Gallery Opening Receptions annually, along with three major Broadway productions, four classical music concerts, music and photography lessons, and a variety of year-round art classes for people all ages.

Complete details, rules and regulations are available at www.turnercenter.org/news/cruising-for-the-arts and at www.sgatravel.com. For more information about Cruising for the Arts, call the Turner Center for the Arts at 229-247-2787.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Guardian Bank Studio on June 11. The studio, located on the second floor of the center, houses the resources for the Turner Center’s Career Pathways program.

Made possible through a partnership with Guardian Bank, the Career Pathways program provides creative classes such as photography, photo editing, and other fine art disciplines for children and adults who do not have the financial resources to afford these types of courses. The Guardian Bank Studio features 11 computer stations, modern software programs, and other technology and presentation equipment. Other disciplines, such as videography and website design, will gradually be added to the program throughout the five-year strategic partnership.

The grant covers the costs of the instructors, as well as provides a number of scholarships for those with a lot of desire but limited resources. The overall goal is to equip people with skills that positively impact their economic status and contribute to the overall success of the community.

The Career Pathways program at the Turner Center serves people of Lowndes County and the surrounding region.

“We are fortunate to have this partnership with Guardian Bank that helps us provide people with creative skills and meets real needs in the communities we serve.” said Turner Center Executive Director Sementha Mathews. “The commitment of Guardian Bank and the Turner Center for the Arts staff is reaching people where they are and, together, positively impacting community development in our region.”

For more information, contact the Turner Center for the Arts at 229-247-2787 or visit www.turnercenter.org.