George A Spiva Center for the Arts

Education & Outreach: Education and outreach are central to Spivas mission of making the arts accessible and engaging for all. In 2024, Spiva offered a wide variety of visual arts classes, workshops, and camps for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Our summer art camps remained a vital creative outlet for area youth, while weekly classes supported artists of all skill levels year-round. The Third-Grade Collaborative continued to bring over 1700 area third grade students to Spiva where many of them experienced an art gallery for the first time. They learned about art, made art, and installed a collaborative exhibit. Spiva also expanded its outreach initiatives to bring high-quality art experiences directly into schools, non-profits, community centers, and more-especially in underserved and rural areas. These efforts included external art programming, art in community gathering spaces, and collaborative projects with educators to integrate arts into classroom learning. Outreach partnerships helped reach new audiences and provided opportunities for creative expression beyond the walls of the center. Scholarships and sponsorships ensured that no student was turned away due to financial need, reinforcing Spivas commitment to equity in the arts.

Programs & Events: Spiva Center for the Arts offers a dynamic lineup of programs and events that engage the community, celebrate creativity, and expand access to the arts. Signature events such as the annual Membership Show, Art on Tap, and Spiva in Bloom bring people together around shared cultural experiences and help foster a vibrant, inclusive arts community. In 2024, Spiva also hosted artist receptions, public lectures, and collaborative events with local organizations that highlighted regional talent and encouraged dialogue through the arts. These efforts support Spivas mission to make the arts accessible and meaningful for people of all ages and backgrounds. Special attention was given to removing barriers to participation, with several events offered free or at low cost to ensure broad community access.

Exhibits: Spiva presented 18 exhibitions in 2024, featuring a mix of regional, national, and international artists across multiple gallery spaces. Highlights included major solo and group exhibitions, traveling shows, and juried competitions. Our exhibitions spanned a wide range of mediums and themes, reflecting our commitment to artistic excellence, cultural diversity, and creative exploration. Interpretive materials, docent-led tours, and digital resources enriched the visitor experience and deepened engagement. Many exhibitions were paired with educational and public programming to encourage dialogue and connection between artists and audiences. Spivas galleries remained vibrant spaces for cultural exchange and artistic discovery.