The Art Center of Citrus County is dedicated to providing opportunities for cultural enrichment.
Being surrounded by major cities like Tampa and Orlando, as well as dozens of colleges and universities, makes the Villages of Citrus Hills a prime spot for anyone interested in arts and culture.
But one of the best local places to explore the arts is located just a few minutes up the road from us!
The Arts Center of Citrus County on Annapolis Ave is just north of the Villages of Citrus Hills. This amazing local non-profit operates a two-building campus that includes a 200-seat theater as well as a building dedicated to educating locals about the arts.
History of the Art Center
The Art Center was originally started around 1970 as The Citrus County Art League. Of course, back then there wasn’t a whole lot to the organization, but things have really changed over the last 45 years!
The first building for the Art Center was constructed in 1984. In 2003, a second building that would become the theater was added. The first building was then renovated and expanded to its current size in 2007.
Buildings of the Art Center
The larger building is referred to as the Art & Education Building. This 6,500 square foot building includes a number of different classrooms and studios, as well as a library that contains photos and newspaper clippings of many of the events that have happened there over the years.
The other building is the 200-seat theater that plays host to a five play theater season each year, as well as a few musicals and a youth play during the holidays.
The Arts Academy
While the biggest draw to the Theater Building is definitely the plays and musicals, the biggest attraction at the Arts & Education Building is The Arts Academy classes that are held there regularly.
Some of the adult classes that are offered include Drawing I, Drawing II, Painting with Acrylics, Drawing & Painting the Nude Figure, Oil Painting, and The Art Spirit Watercolor Workshops.
The Art Center also offers youth classes in both art and drama.
The Camera Club
Another popular draw is the Art Center’s Camera Club. This is the largest of the many member groups that meet there regularly.
On the first Monday of each month from September through June, the Camera Club meets to discuss photography. These meetings often feature guest speakers and updates on available workshops and field trips.
The Camera Club also holds regular photography competitions.
Coffee & Canvas
The Art Center is only a mile and a half from the Villages of Citrus Hills, but you don’t even have to go that far to participate in local arts programs. The Villages of Citrus Hills offers Coffee & Canvas in our Activity Center each and every month.
This month’s featured artist is Vanessa Fuller-Brown giving instruction on replicating Claude Monet’s “Nympheas.” The event includes coffee and all the materials you will need to create your very own replication of this French Impressionist classic.
If you are someone who has always had an interest in any type of artistic pursuit, the Arts Center of Citrus County has many different ways for you to pursue that passion.
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For more information on any of our programs, check out our website, or sign up for the next Coffee & Canvas event right here in the Villages of Citrus Hills at the Activity Center