Peninsula Fine Arts Center facts for kids
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center (Pfac) was a special place for art in Newport News, Virginia. It worked with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Pfac was located near the Mariners' Museum. It was officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). This means it met high standards for museums. The center started in 1962 as the Peninsula Arts Association (PAA). It was created by people in Hampton Roads who loved art. Their first art show in 1962 featured an "Artmobile" from the Virginia Museum. Pfac was one of only a few art centers that didn't collect art but still earned AAM approval.
How the Art Center Began (1962-1980)
The Peninsula Arts Association (PAA) first opened in downtown Newport News. It was in an old school building. Before they had a proper place, the founders even showed art in their backyards!
In 1964, the PAA moved to the Christopher Newport College campus. It moved again to Hilton Village and then to a shopping center. For very big art shows, they used the Mariners’ Museum.
A big change happened in 1975. Newport News Shipbuilding gave the PAA its old testing lab. This building was on two acres of land near the Mariners’ Museum. Many people in the community helped pay to fix up the building. The PAA opened its new doors on November 5, 1978.
Later, more changes were made to the building. They added art studios upstairs. These studios were for a special art program. It helped talented students from Newport News schools develop their art skills. This program later grew into workshops for many students.
Growing Bigger and Getting Recognized (1981-1993)
In 1983, the PAA officially became the Peninsula Fine Arts Center. It also became a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. As the center became more popular, a man named David L. Peebles helped raise money. In 1985, he led a campaign to collect $1.5 million for a new part of Pfac.
With help from both private groups and the government, they raised the money. The ground-breaking ceremony was on March 14, 1988. An architect from Williamsburg, VA named Carlton Abbott designed the new section.
The new addition made the art center much bigger. It tripled the space for art shows. It also added a better entrance, classrooms, and workshop areas. The new space had improved security and climate control for the art. The usable space grew from 4,000 square feet to over 15,000 square feet. It included three main galleries, a hallway gallery, a video gallery, four art classrooms, and a meeting room.
The grand opening of the new Fine Arts Center was on April 30, 1989.
In 1993, the center earned its special recognition from the American Alliance of Museums. This was a big achievement!
Celebrating 50 Years
In 2012, the center celebrated its 50th birthday! They had several exciting art shows. One show was called "Art and the Animal." Another show, "The Artists: Who We Are Past and Present," celebrated local artists. These artists had either taught or shown their work at Pfac before. This show also included photos of the center's history.
That summer, Pfac held its well-known "Biennial" exhibition. The anniversary year ended with a show called "50 Great American Artists."
In 2013, Pfac decided to join with Christopher Newport University. The university officially closed the Peninsula Fine Arts Center on December 31, 2020. The university then took over Pfac's special AAM recognition for its own new art center. Courtney Gardner was the last leader of Pfac.
