Will you invest in the lasting legacy of The Arts Center?
Why pledge or donate to our capital campaign?
The arts improve our lives. Athens Area Council for the Arts improves the quality of life in our area through performing arts, visual arts, community engagement, and arts education programs.
AACA’s volunteers and staff have enthusiastically served our community for over 40 years by offering opportunities for the expression and appreciation of the arts. And gracious support from friends like you has made it happen.
We need you to help us write the next chapter of The Arts Center’s story.
Here’s how it started…
Our humble organization has seen so much growth since moving into our home in 2005 that by 2019, our board was playing musical chairs with ACT rehearsals, painting classes, and choir rehearsals in order to have a monthly meeting. We responded to our arts community’s call for more space – and to dedicate specific areas for rehearsal, classes, and collaboration. We were blessed to find that space right next door to our current building. When we purchased these three additional properties, we expanded our footprint by nearly 6,000 square feet.
Having the square footage was amazing, but it was in rough shape, and wasn’t ready to take AACA to the next chapter in our story. So, we gathered together to imagine and scheme – just like we did in 1979. We designed the new space to meet our needs, engaged an architect, and launched the quiet phase of a Capital Campaign.
And then Covid-19 happened…
Our quiet campaign ignited our community’s imagination and raised more than half of our initial goal by the time we were ready to announce our efforts publicly. Unfortunately, fundraising efforts quickly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We did not stop working during our fundraising pause, however; our Building Committee has overseen the installation of new roofing for our entire facility and organized volunteers to paint the outside of our new buildings and began demolition on drop ceilings and interior walls.
Here’s where we are right now…
Renovation has begun! We learned in early 2022 that our initial goal would not allow us to make renovations to our new space and improvements to our current plan to best serve our volunteers and patrons. The good news is, as of November 2022, we have nearly $1.2 million in donations and pledges toward our new goal of $1.6 million dollars.
Donors
Early support from Campaign Kickstarters allowed us to purchase the buildings and pay for new roofs on all our properties. The generosity of the donors listed here has allowed us to begin renovations on The Arts Center of our future.*
PIONEER - $100,000
The City of Athens, Tennessee
Peggy V. Helmerich / The Helmerich Trust
Brenda & Foy Mitchell
T H E A R T S C E N T E R
IMAGINEER - $50,000
Laura & Mullie LeNoir
David Mayfield, Missy Mayfield, Debbie & Rob Mayfield
Lisa & Scottie Mayfield
McMinn County
Mintie C. Willson, Meredith Willson, Chelsey & Hugh Willson, and Deb & Paul Willson
DREAMER - $25,000
Clarice & J. Dean Baggett
Judy & Bill Biddle
Becky & Mitchell Bryant
Lucia Clark Case
Elaine & John Cathcart
In Memory of Dixie & Swayne Grissom
by Skylar Dean
George R. Johnson Family Foundation
Ellen & Art Kimball
Kiwanis Club of Athens
Elizabeth & Jeremy Loftis, Jordon & Robert Nelson, and Freddie & Jim Nelson
The Lyndhurst Foundation
Sydney Trew, Katie & Cullen Trew, and
Cailtin & Matt Johnson
BELIEVER - $10,000
Anonymous
Margaret & Frank Akers
Sharon Brown / State Farm Insurance
Melissa & James Bagley
Sandra & Mike Boyd
Jan Burleson & G. David Brown
Capstar Bank
DENSO
Food City K-VA-T
Hiwassee Builders Supply
Janie & Allan Jones
Sandra Kinney & Michael Stevenson
The Matias Leonesio Family
C. Scott & Muriel Mayfield Family Foundation
Sarah & Chris Maynard
Milli & David Richter
Janice & Bob Roseberry
Karen & Dave Siklosi
Truist
Valley Oil Company /
Shirley & Sonny Woodcock
The Willis Family
Wolfenden Family Pharmacies /
Lisa & Jeff Wolfenden
PATRON - $5,000
Anonymous
Lauren Brown
Susan Buttram
Whitney Kimball & Matt Coe
Penny & Doug Cross
Judi & Shelley Griffith
Lindsey & Andrew Kimball
Cynthia Webb McCowan
Eyes of Athens /
Katelyn McGee & Christopher Muegge
NAPA Auto Parts of Athens /
Casey & Jody Harrison
Peoples Bank of East Tennessee
Sarah & Perry Philpott
Myra & Joel Riley
Pam & Rick Thigpen
In Memory of George & Mary Ellen Naff by Jim Thompson
Lauren & Scott Trew
Walmart
In Memory of Virginia & Bacon Walthall by Bennett & Louis Prichard, Ann & Richard Doran, Betty Dysart, and Martin Walthall
Laurel & Charles Wood
SUPPORTER - $1,000
Anonymous (2), AM Investment Strategies, LLC, Emily & Daniel Arrington, Joyce Baker, Bargain Barn, Inc., Brittany Barr & Scott Sellers, Kathy & Mike Bevins,
Mary Lib & Speight Bird, Beverly & Robert Briody, Katie & Robby Bursley, Maddie Bursley, Melonie & Paul Carideo, Pat Chester, Blake Chastain, Nancy Chinchor, George & Carole Cinci, Kathy & Charlie Clark, Anna & Randy Cook, Betsy & Kim Cox, Charles Cox, Rebecca & Travis Cox, Tsali Notch Vineyard / Sally & Cary Cox, Sharon & Jay Crittenden, Martha Culvahouse & Jack Waggett, Denise & Jeff Cunningham, Judi & Cary Davis, Trish & Bill Drury, In Honor of Peggy Dow by
Sally & Dwain Ealy, Carlton Ealy, Estes & Kennedy Law Office, PLLC, Robin & Jerry Estes, Carolyn & Bill Foree, Linda & Robert Foster, Free Hill Community Residents, Larae & Phil Graves, Greeks Bearing Gifts / Patti & Jim Greek, Carolyn & Shirel Grimmett, Carole & Davis Haynes, Debbie & Tom Hamilton,
DeLane & Evan Haren, Beverly Harrison, Teresa & Tom Hughes, Liz & Glen Ingram, In Memory of Nelson Green by Beth & Bryan Jackson, Rebecca Jaquish,
Margie & Doug Jones, Sarah & Ben Kennedy, Boni & Joe Kross, Nancy & Ron Kyzer, Georgia & Bob Lamb, Lisa & Joe Littleton, In Memory of Mattie Witt Long and Jess Long, Autumn Lowry, Cindy & Lynn Massingale, Mayfield Dairy, Mayfield Farm & Nursery / Jamie & Michael Mayfield, Jaime & Robert McGinnis,
Traci & Brad McKenzie, Beth & Jim Mercer, Joy Merckson, Miller & McPhail CPAs, PLLC, Sam Moser / Main Street Studio Architects, Brenda & Randy Mullins, Jackie & Todd Newman, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Ella & Rick Parker, Myra & Rusty Patterson, Vivien & Alan Payne, Sylvia Pelley, Lynn & Bo Perkinson,
In Honor of Carla Arterburn by Amelia & Mark Reedy, Ginger & Joe Robinson, Liz & Chris Schreck, Mary & Fred Seals, Sue & Charles Senn,
Olivia Sloane Shepherd, Eleanor & Bill Sikes, Mary Ann & Mike Siklosi, Kay & Mike Simmons, Libby Skorupan, Sliger's Jewelers / Pat & Gene Sliger,
Stephen Sliger, Shirley & Jerry Smith, Amy & Stuart Sullins, Christa & Trey Sullins, Katie & C. Seth Sumner, Renee Grayson & Chris Trew, Susan & Mort Trew,
In Memory of Helen O'Donnell by Kristin Tubb, Warren Jackson CPAs, PLLC, Webb Plumbing, Heating & Electric, Willhite & Mitchell, PLLC,
Jeanne & Grady Williams, William Lane Willson, Cynthia & Ben Wilson, William Wilson, Jr., Jean Wilson, Frances Witt-McMahan, Martha Woods,
In Memory of Ronald Younger by Mary Younger
*Pledges and contributions of $1,000 or more; current as of December 1, 2024.