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, which means it's not trying to make money. Instead, it helps artists from different fields work together. It's like a community and a school for artists.
Famous places like the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts have shown art that started at the ACA. This shows how important and creative the center is! The buildings were designed by Thompson and Rose Architects.
Contents
History of the ACA
The Atlantic Center for the Arts was started by a local artist named Doris Leeper. She was also an environmentalist, someone who cares about nature.
How the Idea Began
In 1977, Doris Leeper had a great idea. She wanted to create a place where artists could live and work. This program would let artists from all different areas, like painting or music, work with famous artists. She imagined a supportive and creative space for new ideas.
Doris convinced her friends and people in the community to help. In 1979, she got a special grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. This grant gave $25,000 to start the ACA.
Building the Center
A perfect piece of land became available on Turnbull Bay. This bay is a tidal estuary, which means it's connected to the ocean. Doris Leeper raised $50,000 to buy the ten-acre plot.
Just three years later, in 1982, five main buildings were finished. Over time, five more buildings were added. The center also bought 59 more 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 buildings and areas. These spaces help artists create and share their work. They also welcome visitors to learn about art.
Pabst Visitor Center & Gallery
The Pabst Visitor Center is the main building for visitors. It has several art galleries for everyone to enjoy.
- The Jean G. Harris History Gallery shows the story of the ACA.
- The Mentoring Artist Gallery has changing art shows. These shows feature art by the famous artists who teach at ACA.
- The Jack Mitchell Portrait Gallery displays photos of ACA's mentoring artists. These photos were taken between 1982 and 2004.
The Visitor Center also has a gift shop. You can also walk a 500-foot public art and nature trail nearby.
Leeper Studio Complex
The Leeper Studio Complex is made up of six buildings. They are connected by raised wooden walkways. This complex has a library and studios for many types of art.
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Dance
- Music and recording
- Theater
This complex added a lot of space for artists to work. It also provides more facilities for public programs.
Programs at ACA
The Atlantic Center for the Arts offers exciting programs. These programs help artists grow and share art with the community.
Mentoring Artists-in-Residence Program
This program brings together famous artists from around the world. These "mentoring artists" work with talented "associate artists." The associate artists are chosen by the mentors.
Since 1982, over 155 residencies have happened at the ACA. Each residency lasts three weeks. More than 430 mentoring artists and 3,500 associate artists have taken part. The first residency in 1982 included author James Dickey and sculptor Duane Hanson.
Community Art Programs
In 1991, the ACA opened Harris House in downtown New Smyrna Beach. This historic home became a cultural community center. It offers art education programs for children. It also provides cultural activities for adults. ACA at Harris House has a special space to show art by Florida artists.
IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts
IMAGES is a free art festival for everyone. It gives $30,000 in cash awards to artists. It also has one of the best Patron Programs in the Southeast.
Visitors can see art from over 225 artists. They can also enjoy gourmet food trucks and live entertainment. There are also Creative Education activities especially for children.
Gallery
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Entrance to the Atlantic Center for the Arts.
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The Pabst Visitor Center and Gallery.
