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Parkersburg Art Center

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Chartered in 1938, the Parkersburg Art Center (PAC) is West Virginia’s oldest cultural agency in continuous operation. The building itself used to house a Montgomery Ward Department store. The PAC has five gallery spaces that display works of artists and crafters in the region and beyond. They also offer year-round art workshops for students of all ages in a wide variety of disciplines, including pottery classes offered in their co-op Clay Studio. The PAC is available to rent as a venue for weddings, receptions, showers, trade-shows, and lectures.

Images

Parkersburg Art Center (Front)

Sky, Property, Window, Building

Parkersburg Art Center

Interior design, Picture frame, Building, Wood

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Parkersburg Art Center was established in the 1930’s but was not incorporated until 1956. The Center acted as a community arts association, but the Board of Trustees decided to pursue expansion into a traditional museum beginning in 1972. It was a few years later that they were able to secure a permanent location, the previous Montgomery Ward Department Store building on Market Street built in 1930. The Board at the time planned on establishing a permanent exhibit schedule, with temporary exhibits, educational events for adults and children, and guided school tours. From then on, they have continued operating as a full gallery and museum, with educational opportunities offered for children and adults.

Sources

Center, Parkersburg Art. Our Story, Parkersburg Art Center. Accessed April 19th 2021. https://www.parkersburgartcenter.org/our-story.

Hearings, Reports and Prints of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1973.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

https://www.parkersburgartcenter.org/our-story

Greater Parkersburg CVB

Additional Information