If you are an artist or an art fan and you live or attend school in the Magnolia, Arkansas, area, you have come to the right place. If you're looking for others who share your love of the visual, literary, or performing arts, this site is for you. On the events page of this site, you'll find a listing of Magnolia Arts sponsored and co-sponsored activities like the annual Sidewalk Art Show, Open Mic Night, and out community theater productions. On the Links page, you'll find links to the websites of a variety of Magnolia artists as well as opportunities to develop your own artistic abilities. You might be surprised by what you find. You'll also find links to other artistic resources found in the area. By joining us, you'll help the community by bringing your own talents, interests, and resources to Magnolia's cultural base.
The Art Show is coming up in May. This year it will be held at the new facility at 116 South Washington (pictured below.) Not to worry, the building will be spruced up and ready for visitors by then.
Click on the EVENTS tab above for the latest updates on these and other exciting and upcoming projects and attactions.
The Magnolia Arts Council has received the gift of a building just off Court Square that will be turned into a community arts center.
Ann Gantt Gibson has given the former Stephens Country Store building next to Imperial Antiques to Magnolia Arts, said the group's executive director, Janet Rider-Babbitt.
Collectively, both Imperial Antiques and the former Stephens Country Store site on South Washington are known as the Gantt Building. The building was constructed in the 1950s after a fire destroyed the south half of the block on the east side of the square.
"We're going to turn it into an arts center. It's going to be like a community building," Rider-Babbitt said.
Magnolia Arts inquired about the building after Stephens Country Store moved to the former Macco Theatre on the west side of the square.
"We took a walk-through and she wanted to know what we would do with it," Rider-Babbitt said. "We told her that we could do theater productions, art shows, jazz coffeehouses, open mic nights and classes."
Other potential uses are weddings, meetings and parties that will help Magnolia Arts defray renovation and operating costs.
And there will be costs.
"We have to get a new roof put on because it's leaking. We want to do the flooring over. It is carpet and we would like to have a wood floor. We want to take out the drop ceiling, paint it black and hang theatrical lights up there," Rider-Babbitt said.
An air conditioning unit will have to be fixed.
Still, Rider-Babbitt sees the building's potential.
"It's on the square, which is awesome," she said.
Out of the public's view are a kitchen, two restrooms, a loading dock and storage rooms.
"It's perfect for costumes and props. There is so much we can do with it," Rider-Babbitt said.
She estimates that there's room for a 150-seat theater - a good size for theatrical productions with small casts.
A fund-raising campaign for renovations will be announced in the months to come. A preliminary estimate for roof repairs is more than $37,000. People may send donations to Magnolia Arts, P.O. Box 9446, Magnolia, AR 71754.
"We're really, really excited. We never thought we'd have a building this soon," Rider-Babbitt said.
From: Magnolia Reporter.com
Mike McNeill
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Board Officers: President; Angela Lester; Vice President; Amanda Smitth; Treasurer, Steve Nipper
Board Members: Roger Guevara, Walter Hale, Dan May, Tim Wise, Cledis Stuart, Angela Pieratt, Shannin Schroeder, Katherine Caldwell, Abby Alphin
Executive Director: Janet Rider-Babbitt