News

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.

A Music Mentorship Program Celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial

The Lowndes-Valdosta Arts Commission, doing business as the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to fund a Strum & Drum for America 250 after-school and weekend opportunity for youth on its family-friendly arts campus.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts will host country/rock band Naturally Southern for a live Music in the Art Park concert on Fri., November 14 from 7-9 p.m. in the Art Park located at 605 N. Patterson St. The concert, sponsored by Greater Valdosta United Way, is free to the public.

The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts will hold an opening reception on Mon., November 10, from 5 to 7 p.m., at 527 N. Patterson Street. The Center will feature the works of Amy Lay, “A West Wind,” the Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance (SEFAA), “Intertwined 2025: Contemporary Southeastern Fiber Art,” and the Contemporary Art Alliance of Georgia (CAAGA), “Introducing CAAGA.” Admission is free? and light refreshments will be served.

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 will hold a new gallery exhibit reception on Mon., August 4, from 5 to 7pm, at 527 N. Patterson Street. The Center will feature the works of the Withlacoochee Quilters Guild, Debo Groover, “Flora and Fauna,” and the re-installation of the African Artifact Permanent Collection. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served.