Staunton Downtown Development Association
The R.R. Smith Center for History and Art in Staunton, Virginia is a beautifully restored architectural jewel in the crown of the Queen City's Beverley Historic District. It personifies why a "sense of place" matters in creating vibrant and sustainable communities.
The R.R. Smith Center is not just a restored historical building. It's not just the reclamation of neglected urban space intended to boost the local economy. It's not just a pretty monument to the past. The R.R. Smith Center is a bustling hub of arts and cultural activity that nurtures the hearts and minds of Staunton's residents and visitors. It is a major part of the city's heartbeat.
The Center is a collaboration of three leading cultural organizations housed in what was originally the Eakleton Hotel designed by noted local architect T.J. Collins. The Augusta County Historical Society, the Historic Staunton Foundation and the Staunton Augusta Art Center provide a wide-range of arts, preservation and history programs and activities in the building's unique atmosphere of elegance and functionality. Exhibit galleries, lecture hall, classrooms, archival areas, a conservation laboratory, a library and reading room, conference facilities, offices and a locally sourced retail store reflect many aspects of Staunton’s eclectic charm.
What truly sets the R.R. Smith Center apart is that the organizations operating there successfully model how the history of a "place" can be merged with the living, breathing needs of the present. The benefits of teamwork, the importance of arts and culture education and a passion for developing local artists, preservationists and historians of all ages are themes clearly threaded throughout the missions of each group. The proffering of state-of-the-art facilities, juried exhibitions, important collections and special hands-on workshops and educational programs has established the R.R. Smith Center as a core element of Staunton's vibrant local culture.
Outreach from the R.R. Smith Center hub is also a key reason why "This Place Matters." Numerous activities radiate the Center's influence out into the community. Staunton Augusta Art Center's signature two-day juried event "Art in the Park" and its involvement with other local gallery events, youth shows and community garden development increases the accessibility of art to the public. The Augusta County Historical Society's living history programs and tours to historic sites bring history up close and personal for participants. And the expertise and personal assistance the Historic Staunton Foundation provides for city agencies and local property owners in researching and planning preservation projects is an invaluable resource to the community.
The R.R. Smith Center truly matters because it contributes to the lifeblood of Staunton's cultural identity and economic viability. It brings history, art and the local creative community into a solid partnership that nourishes residents.
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