The Center-Home to Arts of the Albemarle, is located in the beautifully renovated historical Lowry-Chesson Building. A flagship department store and cornerstone of commerce for downtown Elizabeth City, North Carolina, when constructed in 1895. The Center is now a world-class arts facility resulting from the community's $4million preservation campaign. The Center houses The Jaquelin Jenkins Gallery, The Maguire Theatre and the School of the Arts.

The Jaquelin Jenkins Gallery-The Jaquelin Jenkins Gallery is a home to over 250 artists, craftsmen and photographers.  In addition to the retail gallery, The Center hosts special exhibits of local and nationally known artists.

The Maguire Theatre-Original to the Lowry-Chesson Building, has been restored as a intimate, state of the art 250 seat perfomance space.  The Maguire also hosts local, regional and national acts many of which offer outreach residencies to schools in our service area.  Innovative design of the theatre makes possible a wide rang of events from seated perfomances to caberet type events to private receptions.  The Maguire Theatre is also home to AOA's Center Players-an integrated performing arts program, the Center Players provides intense instruction to over 40 children ages 8-18 who learn dance, drama and music.  Scholarships are offered for this after school program.

The School of the Arts-Offers instruction in the performing and visual arts including guitar, flute, voice, violin and piano.  Students may enroll in individual and group lessons.  The summer program offers day camps for all ages, with instruction in painting, music and drama.  The School also offers many adult classes and workshops for individual and groups. 

Vintage Photos of the Arts Center Building

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Your support is vital to our success. It provides the necessary funds for our visual and performing art programs and it ensures The Centers future. Please show your support today.