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Culture

Maury County Arts Guild Offers Plenty of Opportunity for Creative Expression

Feeling creative? Head for the Maury County Arts Guild in Columbia‚ where you can act in a play‚ join a writing club or paint a masterpiece.

“The Maury County Arts Guild is open to everybody‚” says Abby Forsythe‚ a member of the board of directors and chairwoman of the guild’s arts and crafts committee. “We have performing arts‚ visual arts‚ photography‚ painting‚ computer graphics‚ arts and crafts‚ and a literary reading and writing club. We also have a visual arts gallery with art shows several times a year.”

Established in 1972 by a group of residents who wanted to promote free expression of the arts‚ the arts guild made its first home in an old house on West Seventh Street. Eventually the guild outgrew the house‚ and in 1986 it moved to its current facility on Lion Parkway‚ which features classrooms‚ offices‚ a 225-seat performing arts wing‚ dressing rooms‚ a meeting room and an art gallery.

The arts guild’s performing arts committee presents five shows each season‚ running from August through May. One show each season is directed by the Maury County Teen Arts Guild.

“We usually get great feedback from the community‚” Forsythe says. “Our musicals and well-known shows like The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella bring in big crowds.”

The arts guild will perform The Lion in Winter in spring 2007‚ and the 2007-2008 season is slated to include Taming of the Shrew‚ James and the Giant Peach‚ How the Grinch Stole Christmas‚ Father of the Bride and Annie.

“I really enjoy the musicals we put on. I directed my first musical a couple years ago‚” Forsythe says. “Some of us spend so much time at the theater that we keep clothes there. It’s a pretty close-knit group‚ like a family.”

Forsythe estimates between 250 and 300 people are involved with the Maury County Arts Guild.

“Entire families get involved‚ because it has so much to offer for kids‚ teens and adults‚” she says.

Art classes are offered based on demand at the arts guild‚ and a five-day kids’ theater camp is held each summer. The guild also sponsors the annual Mule Day Arts & Crafts Show the second weekend in April and the Meriwether Lewis Arts & Crafts Show the second weekend in October.

A favorite annual event is the arts guild’s Follies Review in August.

“Local musicians put on a show‚ and it usually sells out‚” Forsythe says. “People love it because we do a lot of oldies‚ and there’s great vocal talent. We work on it all year long‚ so it’s a big‚ exciting night.”

Membership in the Maury County Arts Guild costs $25 per year for individuals and $40 per year for families. For more information‚ visit artsguild.org.

Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Greg Emens

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