where we come from

By the 1980s the TVIA Board of Arts existed essentially in name only. That changed in the early 1990s when a group of friends with a passion for the arts and young children whom they wanted to have more exposure to art jumped on Board.

The building which is now the Creative Arts Center has had quite an evolution. It was built in 1906 as a church and through the years fulfilled several functions including a Second Hand Store. In 1988, Carlos and Nancy Florey purchased it with the idea of using it for their business and as a community center. Some of their circle of friends initiated programs such as dance classes, a parent preschool co-op and social events. In the early 1990s, the Floreys sold the building to Dr. Peter Rothchild, who agreed to continue it as a community center. This spurred a revitalization of the TVIA Board of Arts, which became the organization taking care of the building. Sometime during this process, it became the Creative Arts Center (CAC).

New programs such as a Musical Kindergarten, an expanded dance program, theater, tumbling, and after-school art classes were well received, and the TVIA Board of Arts continuously sought more creative ways to engage the community. Dr. Rothchild decided that it would be in his best interest not to be the owner of the building, so he donated it to the Board of Arts with the understanding that they would take over loan payments. They agreed, but it meant that a lot more effort would be put into fundraising. The Holly Faire Holiday Bazaar, a Haunted House at Halloween, a greeting card project were some of the programs that came out of this. Also, they made the decision to require paid memberships and charging fees for use of the space. The amounts for the fees were decided intentionally, making them affordable to as many in the community as they could - a practice which continues today.

In the late 1990s, it became obvious they were outgrowing the building. An expansion project began in 2003 that was completed in 2007. Through the dedication and hard work of those founding members, as well as generous donations from the community, the CAC is now a thriving community center with two large studios and a smaller art studio. Not confined to the walls of the Center however, art is spread throughout the county with programs and events such as the Trash-2-Flash Recycled Fashion Show, Art in the Park, and Art Without Walls.

In 2011, the TVIA Board of Arts split from the Board of History to become the Tobacco Valley Arts Council. In 2013, the name was changed to the Creative Arts Council.

From the beginning, the organization has followed its vision that the study and practice of art and creativity are essential to being a more balanced individual and contributor to society and the world. Its mission is to promote that vision by providing opportunities for involvement in a variety of programs at the CAC and throughout the community.

In Summary, the programs at the CAC have included everything from Art to Zumba:

• Art instruction in clay, classical drawing and painting, art using found and natural objects, fiber arts, and photography.

• An array of classes that encourage and teach wellness and fitness such as Karate, preschool moving and tumbling, yoga, Zumba, belly dancing, and dance classes for couples.

• Home to the Creative Arts Dance Studio (privately run) since the very beginning. This very successful dance program annually involves over 100 members of the community starting at the age of 3 with no upward age limit.

• Rental to the community for private functions; for example - High School-aged dances and birthday parties.

• Programs and classes each year that are free to the community such as seasonal art classes; for example, the wildly popular annual Pumpkin Carving.

• The annual Holiday bazaar, the Holly Faire.

• Trash-2-Flash Recycled Fashion Show

The Creative Arts Council is constantly seeking new and innovative artistic opportunities for the community. The Tobacco Valley is home to a lot of artists and artisans who want to share their knowledge and the Council strives to find ways to encourage them to do so.