Arts Center of Moultrie recognizes patrons and celebrates theater renovation

Kevin Hall, The Moultrie Observer, Ga.
·3 min read

May 16—MOULTRIE — On May 13, The Arts Center hosted its annual State of the Arts patron dinner, a program designed to thank donors, recognize volunteers, recap the past year, and lay the foundation for the year to come. Over 100 guests attended the event, led by Board Chair Josh Lovett.

Four exiting board members (Dr. Woody Weeks, Stacey Davenport, Laura Mobley, and Preston Mobley) were acknowledged for their service, and six new board members (Alicia Sims, Angela Hobby, Mary Bell Hernandez, Dr. Garry Swartzentruber, Cliff Kirbo and Anna Davis) were welcomed. In addition, Preston Mobley was given a painting of the Arts Center façade by Lynwood Hall as a token of appreciation for his leadership as Board Chair prior to Lovett's term. The Arts Center also acknowledged the dedicated service of 2023-2024 board member Bonnie Griner, who passed away in December.

The Evelyn King Vereen Service Award was presented to Marie Harrison Brown by the late Mrs. Vereen's daughter, Lisa Zeanah. This award was established by the Board of Directors to honor the long-time service of Mrs. Vereen to the Arts Center. Nominees must be current patrons, have a sustained history of service to the organization, and be an active volunteer.

Brown currently serves as an Arts Center board member and president of the Volunteer Arts Alliance, and she has been instrumental in leading the Arts Center's renovation efforts over the last several years. As the fifth recipient of this award, Brown joins previous winners Jane Simpson (2023), Karen Willis (2022), Beverly Adcock (2019), and Barbara and Billy Fallin (2018).

Executive Director Joy Yost gave the annual report of The Arts Center; Alicia Sims presented a report on behalf of the Moultrie Service League; and Brown presented the Volunteer Arts Alliance's annual update. Brown was then joined on stage by Fraley Carlton and together they announced The Arts Center's upcoming Centennial Capital Campaign with a fundraising goal of $2 million, noting that a portion of the funds have already been secured and matched.

Those secured funds include a $50,000 grant from the Fox Theatre Institute / Fox Gives and an additional $50,000 from Georgia Council for the Arts, both earmarked for renovation and refurbishing of the historic theater, which is already well under way.

Fox Gives is the community partnership initiative of the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Fox Gives specializes in breathing new life into historic theaters and communities across Georgia and the Southeast, according to a press release from the Arts Center of Moultrie. "Born from the legacy of the Fox Theatre — a beacon of cultural revival and community uplift — Fox Gives extends a helping hand to other cultural landmarks striving to rejuvenate and re-energize their communities," the release said.

Arts Center patrons and the Colquitt County community are invited to the Fox Theatre's Big Check Ceremony on Wednesday, May 29. Hosted in partnership with Fox Gives, the ceremony will commemorate the grant and the renovations. All are welcome to join at 11 a.m. at The Arts Center of Moultrie, located at 401 Seventh Ave. S.W. Another celebration will be held in the Fall when theater renovations are complete.