Atlantic Center for the Arts facts for kids
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | 1414 Art Center Avenue New Smyrna Beach, Florida |
| Type | Art |
| Founder | Doris Leeper |
| Public transit access | VOTRAN |
The Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA) is a special place in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It's a nonprofit organization where artists from different fields can come together. These fields include music, visual arts, writing, and performing arts. Artists get to work and share ideas with famous artists from today. The ACA also offers art education and workshops for the community.
Many new art projects have started at the Atlantic Center. These projects then go on to be shown in big museums and performance centers. Some of these famous places include the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Contents
History of the Art Center
The Atlantic Center for the Arts was started by a local artist named Doris Leeper. She was also an environmentalist.
Doris Leeper first had the idea for the ACA in 1977. She wanted a place in Florida where artists could live and work. Artists from all different areas could work with well-known artists in a helpful and creative space. Leeper believed this would be a great place for new ideas to be born and shared.
In 1979, she convinced the Rockefeller Foundation to give some money. This first $25,000 helped officially start the ACA. Later, a good piece of land became available near Turnbull Bay. Leeper raised $50,000 to buy this ten-acre plot.
Three years later, five main buildings were finished. Over time, five more buildings were built. The center also bought an extra 59 acres of land to protect nature. In 1997, the Leeper Studio Complex was completed.
What You Can Find at ACA
The Atlantic Center for the Arts has several important buildings and areas. These spaces help artists work and welcome visitors.
Pabst Visitor Center & Gallery
The Pabst Visitor Center is the main headquarters of the ACA. It's located at 1414 Art Center Avenue in New Smyrna Beach. This center has several art galleries for the public to enjoy.
- The Jean G. Harris History Gallery shows how the Atlantic Center for the Arts started and grew.
- The Mentoring Artist Gallery displays new art from the artists who teach and other special shows.
- The Jack Mitchell Portrait Gallery has photos of the teaching artists from 1982 to 2004.
The Visitor Center also has a gift shop. There is a 500-foot public art and nature trail for everyone to explore.
Leeper Studio Complex
The Leeper Studio Complex is made up of six buildings. These buildings are connected by raised wooden walkways. This complex has a library and special studios for different types of art. You can find studios for painting, sculpture, dance, music, recording, and theater.
This complex added a lot of space for artists to work. It also provides more places for public programs and partnerships.
Harris House Gallery
The ACA also runs the Harris House Gallery. This gallery is part of the Community Arts Center at Harris House. It is located at 214 South Riverside Drive in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Programs for Artists and Community
The Atlantic Center for the Arts offers exciting programs for both artists and the local community.
Mentoring Artists-in-Residence Program
This program brings together famous artists from around the world. These "mentoring artists" work with talented new artists. The new artists are chosen by the mentors themselves.
Since 1982, over 155 special three-week programs have taken place. More than 430 mentoring artists and over 3,500 new artists have participated. These artists come from all over the world. The first program in 1982 included author James Dickey and sculptor Duane Hanson.
The center provides a peaceful environment with pine trees and palmettos. It has a library, painting studio, sculpture studio, music studio, dance studio, black box theater, writer's studio, and a computer lab.
Each program session has three mentoring artists from different art areas. The new artists work with their mentors. They also work together on projects and on their own art. The relaxed setting gives them lots of time to create. The Atlantic Center for the Arts provides housing, meals, and 24-hour access to shared studio space. Famous past mentoring artists include Edward Albee and Allen Ginsberg.
Community Art Programs
In 1991, the Atlantic Center for the Arts opened Harris House. This marked the beginning of its community art programs. Harris House is an old home that was turned into a cultural center.
Since it opened, it has been a leader in providing art education for children. It also offers cultural activities for adults. ACA at Harris House has a special exhibition space just for Florida artists.
Gallery
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Entrance
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Pabst Visitor Center and Gallery
