Friday, July 5, 2002

Arts center expansion enters second phase

Fulton County's Southwest Arts Center has begun its second stage of development.

Plans for a 22,300-square-foot addition to the center are in the design stage. Phase II will include a 375-seat theater, gallery and amphitheater at the center located at 915 New Hope Road, SW, Atlanta.

The Board of Commissioners approved $464,000 in 2001 for this project. The architectural firm, Gardner Spencer Smith Tench & Hensley, P.C., was selected last fall to design the project. The firm's projects have included Spivey Hall at Clayton State College and University and the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts at Georgia State University.

Phase I of the 13,000-square-foot center opened in May 2001 as the first County facility built exclusively for the arts. Amenities include visual arts classrooms, two dance studios, music rehearsal space, a computer graphics lab, and theater rehearsal space.

Community members can take advantage of classes in a variety of arts media, as well as special concerts and other events.

"The project shows what can be done ­ with the people ­ when we all have a mind to work!," said District 5 Commissioner Emma I. Darnell, who played a key role in making the center a reality.

"This extends our commitment to add quality of life through the arts for the people of South Fulton," said District 7 Commissioner William "Bill" Edwards, who currently represents the area.

For more information about the Southwest Arts Center, call 404-505-3220.