About the Visual Arts Center
Our Beginnings
In 1961, a small group of artists organized an outdoor show for Punta Gorda. An astonishing 3,000 people came. These artists decided that maybe they had something, so they began to organize themselves into the Charlotte County Art Guild, Inc.
They began to have informal meetings, organize more art shows, and held art classes in various spots around town: banks, schools, and small storefronts. At first, members had to be “juried into” the Guild - that is, an artist had to have a certain amount of experience and skill to be a member of the Guild. Membership was opened to the general public sometime in the 1970s.
In the early 1980s, artist Henry Lohse led an energetic charge to get a Visual Arts Center built in Charlotte County. The Guild secured a long-term lease of Punta Gorda City property at Maud Street and West Marion Avenue. Fred Babcock was the first Patron of the Arts and contributed greatly to the building fund.
The Center was designed to be built in stages, as the money was raised by the community. The Guild received two matching capital grants from the State of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs in 1985 and 1987. The ground-breaking ceremony was February 1988 and the doors opened in 1989.
The first phase of the building included a large exhibition hall, gift shop, classrooms, and a photography darkroom. The second phase added a library, second gallery, and more classrooms in March 1992.
Our Exhibitions
The Guild began to offer classes in painting and drawing. Exhibits were organized. The first juried art exhibition, the Harvest of Art 1988 was held at the First Federal Bank. Our largest gallery is named for First Federal, one of our early large donors. The second Harvest was the first art show ever in the new Visual Arts Center and remains our longest running annual exhibit; the 20th Anniversary was November 2008.
Our exhibit schedule is now varied and on view all year—juried, judged, themed, member only and exhibits open to any artist. We have hosted a Biennial National Art Exhibition since 1998 which attracts artists from all over. The next is scheduled for 2010.
The Wayne and Donna Goff Gallery was dedicated in November 1999. The Goff Gallery showcases a body of work by member artists. Typically, four artists participate in these group shows which change every month. In 2002, we added another large room that can be divided into two classrooms, if needed. Any member artist can get on the calendar to exhibit.
Art Classes and Workshops
Throughout the years, classes in more art media were added. The VAC has a staff of highly accomplished, award-winning instructors for its six-week courses. Weekly portrait, life drawing studios, and plein aire sessions are now mainstay activities. Fine crafts classes in pottery, stained glass and jewelry-making are now popular additions to the curriculum. Occasionally, specialty classes are offered in diverse media like basketry or silk-painting. We also provide classes, workshops and summer arts camps for children.
Hurricane Charley presented us with the opportunity to renovate much of the building. A grant from the Selby Foundation completely rebuilt our pottery studio and a Charlotte Community Foundation grant helped open a state-of-the-art technology lab.
Peace River National Arts Festival
The VAC is the proud presenter of the most important arts festival in the county. The festival presents only the finest art from national artists and is held in downtown Punta Gorda’s beautiful waterfront Laishley Park. Over 10,000 people attend the festival.
Why Join?
Anyone can, and everyone is welcome to, join and enjoy what the Visual Arts Center offers. Membership dues help support the non-profit organization. Membership is not required to take classes, workshops, or enter most exhibits. Current membership is at nearly 1,000.