New Arts Center opens in Fuquay-Varina

What do you call a vision that finally becomes reality? A dream come true. And for the citizens of Fuquay-Varina, that's exactly what the new Arts Center is.

March was a big month for the city as it celebrated the opening of the Arts Center downtown. The Arts Center has been a long-held dream for the community, and town officials and residents alike are spilling over with excitement.

"The folks here in Fuquay-Varina actually started talking about having an arts center as far back as 25 years ago," said Maureen Daly, director of the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center. "There have been people who have been interested in having a dedicated space for the arts in Fuquay for quite a while. The timing was really good for the town — we had funds available, a bit of time and a lot of things converged all at once to create that perfect storm."

The Arts Center is located on East Vance Street downtown and is a combination of new construction and renovated space of what was previously a Belk's department store. It includes an art gallery, administrative offices, and studios for dance, painting and digital. There are also four classrooms intended for visual and performing arts instruction and a newly built 294-seat theater.

A resident survey revealed the popularity and desirability of an arts center in town and Daly said the excitement for it upon its opening has been palpable.

Programming at the Center will include a wide variety of visual and performing arts classes for all ages. The theater, too, will offer an expansive menu of live theater for community and professional troupes, concerts, recitals and movies.

"The new Arts Center is expected to be an economic catalyst for downtown, while also cultivating an up-and-coming art scene in Fuquay-Varina," said Downtown Manager Dawn Russell. "Bustling activity at the Arts Center is expected to enhance business activities in the downtown area. With several breweries, restaurants and shops near the Arts Center, we think the opportunities for shared success are very strong."

The first gallery show at the Arts Center welcomed pieces from 45 different local artists. Gallery shows will change regularly.

Daly said they also already have at least 40 instructors on deck who will be teaching classes and she "hears every day" from people who are looking to be involved with the Arts Center in some way.

Lifetime Fuquay-Varina resident and supporter of the arts Molly Stephenson is happy to see the facility finally come to fruition and remembers her time pushing for it in the 1990s as a member of the citizens' committee.

"The exciting thing is, it is offering art, dance, music — all the cultural things that are going to make this fun," said Stephenson, who noted the grandeur of the new auditorium. "It has a beautiful stage and lighting; they haven't skimped on the necessities."

Amy Rogers, who sits on the Friends of the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center board, has a vested interest in the arts. As someone who has a studio arts degree and previously worked at an art gallery for 15 years, she said the Arts Center is an opportunity for her and others to "re-engage" their artistic side.

"I love this community so much. There is a spirit of inclusivity, growth, and entrepreneurship. Together, everybody works to build the town the right way and make it a place where people feel at home and want to come into the downtown," she said. "The Arts Center is kind of the new hub — it's going to draw more people into the theater, have exhibitions and programming, and attract people into downtown."

Rogers attended the soft opening and said it was "an amazing night." However, the Arts Center will celebrate a grand opening during the town's annual En Plein Air Paint-Off event on May 17 and 18. Local artists will create original artwork the day prior and the day of, and bring their pieces to the Arts Center to be judged by a panel. Winners will be awarded prizes and the day will culminate in a reception with an artwork auction in the theater.

Daly said the goal of the Arts Center is twofold: to serve as a cultural hub and provide space for creativity to blossom and to also drive traffic downtown.

"We really want to find and support the artistic muscle of the area," she said. "We want to grow our artists and audience."

Added Stephenson, "I think kids and adults have an opportunity to do things right here within walking distance of downtown [now]. It's just going to be a wonderful asset to our community and gives us so many more options than we have now."