Arts, Entertainment & Culture
Visual Arts:
The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts: This light-drenched 17,000-sq. ft. facility features six galleries; classroom space for a variety of art, musical instrument, and photography lessons; and an expansive professional kitchen space where culinary classes are held. New art exhibitions are presented every six weeks, featuring the works of local artists as well as artists of national and regional prominence. The multi-facility art campus includes a separate pottery studio equipped with three kilns and an annex that provides additional classrooms dedicated for youth art education. Click here for a calendar of events.
VSU Fine Arts Gallery: Showcasing student works as well as works by professional artists from around the nation, the gallery is the ideal venue for topical and thought-provoking installations.
Music:
Downtown Music Scene: Live music—blues, jazz and more—at downtown cafes, restaurants and clubs makes any night a concert night.
SCORE Concert Series: A minimum of four classical music concerts are held annually and provide opportunities to experience a variety of classical musicians from all around the world. The performances, rich in culture and entertainment, are organized by and held at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts for all to appreciate.
Valdosta Symphony Orchestra: Music lovers rejoice in the pop and classical concerts the orchestra presents four times per year. Comprised of VSU faculty, select VSU music majors and community members, the orchestra also features guest soloists of national and international prominence; young musicians make up the Valdosta Youth Orchestra, which also performs annually.
VSU Music Performances: A year-round slate of instrumental and choral performances features groups such as the Jazz Ensemble, Steel Drum Band, Wind and Percussion Ensembles, and the Chamber Singers. The university also presents an annual piano festival.
Valdosta Choral Guild: Presents bi-annual concerts, including a popular Christmas concert.
VSU Opera Company: Presents one opera annually, followed by an operetta.
Theatre:
Theatre Guild Valdosta: Classics to contemporaries, dramas, comedies and musicals—the crowd-pleasing productions at the Dosta Playhouse in Downtown Valdosta are presented by the Main Stage and the Gingerbread Children’s Players.
Peach State Summer Theatre: Designated the Official Musical Theatre for the State of Georgia, this professional summer stock theatre is produced on the VSU campus where the 60-member company of actor-singers, dancers, technicians and other creative artists reside for a 9-week season, during which time the company creates and presents three different productions in rotation.
Presenter Series: Touring Broadway musical performances are showcased at the Mathis Auditorium three or four times a year. These superbly professional performances and dining options are organized and sponsored by the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts.
VSU Dance/Theatre: Presents a 7-production season of varying genres, including drama, comedy and musicals.
Celebrations:
Azalea Festival: The annual spring festival draws more than 20,000 visitors for two days of arts, crafts and live entertainment. Typically, approximately 140 vendors are on hand; featured appearances have ranged from live tigers presented by the Tiger Stripes to Classic Car and Motorcycle Shows.
Community Holiday Events: It’s a parade all right—not just a great Holiday Parade, but an entire lineup of spirited events like holiday open houses and a 5K fun run that make Valdosta the Holiday Headquarters for the region.
Museums:
Lowndes County Historical Museum: Building on a $15,000 Andrew Carnegie grant, Valdosta constructed its first library in 1913 at a cost of $40,000. Today the former library is a museum housing an extensive collection of historic photographs, clothing and memorabilia dating back to 1825.
VSU Planetarium: The newly renovated planetarium’s free, Friday night shows for the general public have the stars aligned for a truly cosmic experience.
