Story via Arshia Simkin, The Underline, Orange County Arts Commission
MakerSpace Workshop at the ArtsCenter
(story and photos via Orange County Arts Commission)
Jessica Webb, who is in her eighties, almost gave up on art. Although she had been painting for 25 years, one summer day in 2024, she went to The ArtsCenter to donate her paintings, hoping that the canvases could be used by other artists. But the gallery manager at The ArtsCenter saw promise in Webb’s work and offered her a show. Since that fateful moment, Webb has taken classes at The ArtsCenter, held an exhibition, and sold pieces. “It just sparked something in her. It rekindled that desire in her to be creative,” said Wendy Smith, executive director of The ArtsCenter.
Jennifer Curtis
The ArtsCenter is a local nonprofit whose mission is to educate and inspire artistic creativity in people of all ages: to that end, it offers after school programming, summer arts camps for children from ages five to fourteen, as well as classes for adults in topics as diverse as ceramics, dance, photography, and more. In addition to classes, the center offers events and performances such as concerts, plays, and improv. This fall, Jennifer Curtis, a local yet nationally known, multi-instrumentalist and composer is curating a “Sunday Soirees Series” throughout the fall. Her next show will be on November 2nd. “[The performances] are just amazing,” Smith said.
Since its inception in 1974, the center has had four locations; it’s most recent and current location on Roberson Street “has been a gamechanger” according to Smith. “The first year we were in here, we saw our adult art school program and our youth programs all grow by thirty percent—and then we’re seeing similar growth again this year,” Smith said. In addition, Smith is excited about the center’s ability to expand its programming, offer makerspaces, and the possibilities that come with a yard—which the previous property didn’t have.
The ArtsCenter offers not only paid programing but gives out scholarships and serves Title I schools, which are public schools that receive federal funds to support under-resourced students. Smith explained that the ArtsCenter’s “Artist in Residence Program”(AIR) brings two arts initiatives to nearly 2,000 students across five Title 1 focus schools in Orange County: Central Elementary, Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary, Grady Brown Elementary, New Hope Elementary, and Pathways Elementary. “We’re giving teachers and students the opportunity to look at the curriculum through a new lens and so it helps a lot of kids who may not learn the same way that other kids learn,” Smith said.
Jess Webb
Although the new location will allow The ArtsCenter to serve its patrons more effectively, the center has a long-term debt of $5 million. Thus, the ArtsCenter is currently holding a fundraising campaign titled “Initiative for a Sustainable ArtCenter.” Smith said that they are characterizing the need to raise funds as “urgent.” She added that she hopes that the residents of Orange County are encouraged to contribute to the costs of the new building through this initiative and emphasized how critical the support of everyone in the community is to ensure The ArtsCenter can continue to meet its mission.
As for a vision for the future of the ArtsCenter, the organization is focused on expanding programing and access and building on the successes they already have achieved. The ArtsCenter recently launched its Arts in Education Program which offers all area schools opportunities to book performances, workshops and residencies both at the schools as well as at The ArtsCenter. Smith said, “we are also constantly seeking community partnerships so that we can take the ArtsCenter to other places.”
Learn more about the ArtsCenter at https://artscenterlive.org/
on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artscenterlive/
and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/artscenterlive/
Learn more about donation opportunities at https://artscenterlive.org/support-us/
Chapelboro.com has partnered with the Orange County Arts Commission to bring more arts-focused content to our readers through columns written by local people about some of the fantastic things happening in our local arts scene! Since 1985, the OCAC has worked to to promote and strengthen the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina.
