City of Fayette | Arts, Culture & Leisure
Fayette Civic Center • Art Museum • Fayette Arts Council • Dogwood
Productions (Theatre)
Fayette Civic Center
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The Fayette Civic Center, formerly the Fayette Grammar School was built in 1930 and abandoned as a school in 1973.
Through neglect, the building soon became an eyesore that brought on unfavorable attention and complaints by local citizens.
A longtime dream of then Mayor Guthrie Smith of someday having a Civic Center for Fayette began to focus on this abandoned school building. Three years of talk and negotiations with the Fayette County Board of Education resulted in their deeding this property to the City of Fayette for the purpose of conversion to a civic center.
Immediate steps were taken to fund the project. The City of Fayette obtained a low interest loan from the Farmers’ Home Administration, hired an architect in May 1980, appointed a planning and decorating committee, awarded a contract in September 1981, and had open house on October 17, 1982. The Civic Center is also an excellent display space for the Fayette Art Museum. More than 500 running feet of wall space is devoted to exhibiting over 500 pieces of art work from the city’s permanent collection which numbers over 3500.
During the years in operation, we have satisfied the needs of thousands by providing a gathering place for civic and industrial meetings, family reunions, weddings, receptions, and performances in the auditorium. Our facility includes the following:
• Large Dining Room Seating capacity up to 86
• Small Dining Room Seating for 20 to 30
• Conference Room
For small meetings up to 12
• Meeting Room Seating accommodations auditorium style or seating at Conference tables
• Large Auditorium Includes stage, stage lighting, sound system, screen and projector. Seating for 365.
In 1988, Mayor Smith and two citizens incorporated and established an Endowment Fund for the Fayette Civic Center. The J. Graham Brown Foundation, Earl McDonald, and the City of Fayette provided the main source of support for the Endowment.
The Civic Center is also the home of the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame. This organization recognizes athletes from Fayette County that have excelled in baseball, basketball, football, softball, and track. The Sports Hall of Fame also honors volunteers and coaches that have contributed to athletic programs in Fayette County. Over 100 participates have been inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame since 2003. The Sports Hall of Fame is under the direction of eight board members and is located in the downstairs area of the civic center. For additional information, call 205-932-8727.
If you are interested in booking the Fayette Civic Center for your event, please call Glenda Robertson at 205-932-8727, or email Glenda Robertson at - fayetteciviccenter@watvc.com. We are open Monday- Friday, 9am until noon and 1pm until 4pm. We would appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you! We are now on Facebook, go online and check us out!
Fayette Art Museum
Fayette
Art Museum | 530 North Temple Avenue | Fayette, Alabama
35555 | Phone: (205)-932-8727
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Children's Art Camp
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Annual Fayette Arts Festival
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The Fayette Art Museum was founded in 1969 by the Fayette City Council with a gift of 110 pieces of art from artist and Fayette native Lois Wilson. It was housed in Fayette City Hall. It now located in Fayette Civic Center; originally the Fayette Grammar School built in 1930’s restored in 1982.
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Interior View
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There are now over 4000 pieces in the permanent art collection with over 500 running feet of display space on the main floor of the Civic Center and 6 folk art galleries downstairs as well as a gallery used for the Director/Curators office.
Artists include internationally known and Fayette native Jimmy Lee Sudduth; Rev. Benjamin F. Perkins; Mr. Fred Webster of Berry; Sybil Gibson of Jasper; Jessi LaVon of central Alabama; Wanda Teel of north Alabama; Lois Wilson of Fayette; Moses T and Doug Odom of south Alabama; and Margarette Scruggs of Walker county.
Upcoming Events in 2010:
*4th Annual Fayette Art Museum Children’s Art Camp, July 12 – 23 funded by the Fayette Community Foundation and Fayette Art Museum. It is free to children K – 6th grades.
*41st Annual Fayette Arts Festival, September 11, 9 am – 4 pm at the Guthrie Smith Park. It is a juried arts and crafts show with cash prizes; free art lessons/activities for children, K-6th grades and live entertainment throughout the day. The longest-running consecutive festival of its kind in Alabama.
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Festival of Trees
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*4th Annual Festival of Trees November 27 through December 31.
These is a listing of our annual events at the Museum, but there will be some art exhibits throughout the year.
Fayette Art Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 am – 12 pm and 1 – 4 pm and by appointment for group tours or other times. All events at the Fayette Art Museum are Free and open to the public. The Museum is located at 530 Temple Ave. North, Fayette, Alabama. For more information or questions contact Anne Perry-Uhlman, FAM Director/Curator at (205) 932-8727 or email at fam@watvc.com .
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Fayette Arts Council
The
Fayette Arts Council sponsors performances throughout
the year at the Civic Center, a renovated 1930 school building
now privately endowed by local benefactors. In addition to
the 350-seat auditorium, a dining room and conference facilities,
the Civic Center is also the home of the Fayette Art Museum.
The Fayette Arts Council presents a series of concerts each
year at the 365 seat Fayette Civic Center Auditorium. Past
performances have included concerts by The Alabama Symphony
Orchestra, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Kingston Trio and
The Platters.
Information Concerning the Fayette Arts Council may be obtained
by writing to:
The Fayette Arts Council,c/o The Citizens Bank of Fayette,
P.O. Box 706, Fayette, AL 35555
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Dogwood Productions
Dogwood Productions is a local theatrical company that performs
two major productions each year, Come Back to God America, performed in June, and The Gospel According to Scrooge, performed in December. For More Information please
contact: Deborah Bynum at (205)-932-3727. Member of Fayette Area Chamber
of Commerce. Visit us online at: www.dogwoodproductions.org
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