GADSDEN ARTS CENTER

Housed in the lovingly restored c.1912 Bell & Bates Hardware Building on Quincy’s historic courthouse square, the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum is the cultural crown jewel of Gadsden County and one of only two nationally accredited art museums in North-Central Florida. With opening reception attendance regularly reaching 200–550 visitors and run-of-show attendance averaging 2,000, the Arts Center punches well above its weight as a regional cultural powerhouse.

Since moving into the renovated Bell & Bates building in September 2000, the Gadsden Arts Center has presented exhibitions featuring work by nationally acclaimed artists and leading artists’ organizations. The museum’s nationally accredited permanent collection focuses on contemporary Southeastern art and boasts remarkable holdings of Southern Vernacular Art, including works by Thornton Dial Sr., Purvis Young, Lonnie Holley, and Gee’s Bend Quilts.

The center’s educational mission includes robust programs for children through seniors: learning in the studios and galleries, the beloved Bates Children’s Gallery, summer art camps, and a range of interpretive and studio art programs. The Gadsden Arts Center is a testament to what a small community can achieve with vision, dedication, and a deep belief in the power of art to transform lives.