The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta has been nominated for a Best of Georgia Award through the Georgia Business Journal. Residents of Valdosta, Lowndes County, and across South Georgia are invited to show their support by casting votes for the Turner Center in the Arts & Entertainment category, specifically under Art Galleries. Voting is currently open and will continue 24 hours a day until 11:59 p.m. on October 31.
This annual award program recognizes outstanding businesses and organizations across the state of Georgia. Winners are primarily determined through public voting, celebrating a wide range of services and institutions, from restaurants and healthcare providers to professional services, entertainment, and the arts, that enhance communities statewide. The nomination highlights the Turner Center's role within the Valdosta community and beyond.
According to Executive Director Sementha Mathews, Ph.D., this nomination is a "heartfelt reflection of the support our community has shown the Turner Center for the Arts." Dr. Mathews emphasized the campus's function as an "essential cultural hub" where people can engage with various art forms, gather, learn, create, experience live entertainment, discover new ideas, and connect. She stated that the Turner Center would be honored for the community to help share its story across Georgia through the voting process.
The Turner Center has experienced significant expansion in recent years, growing its facilities, programs, educational opportunities, exhibitions, partnerships, and overall community impact. Today, the Turner Center Campus includes six distinct facilities: the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, the Annette and Darry Crosby Art Annex, the Leona and Dugald Hudson Pottery Studio, the Richard Hill Glass Studio, the Meta Shaw Coleman Children’s Imagination Station, and the Art Park. These combined facilities offer opportunities for individuals of all ages to engage with visual arts, performing arts, education, creativity, and community life.
Community members are encouraged to vote for free. Supporters can cast their votes in the Arts & Entertainment, Art Galleries category. The Turner Center encourages voters to share this opportunity with friends, family, colleagues, and others who believe in the importance of the arts for community quality of life. Dr. Mathews explained that every vote, whether from someone who has visited a gallery, attended a concert, brought children to the Imagination Station, participated in a class, enjoyed the Art Park, or simply values the arts, serves as an expression of support for what the arts contribute to Valdosta and the surrounding region. The deadline to vote is October 31.
