The Alabama Center for the Arts is a collaborative effort between the City of Decatur, Morgan County, Calhoun Community College, and Athens State University. It has been heralded as a model for institutional cooperation in the state. The facility will become a venue for college art instruction, community education, cultural events, and will also serve as a catalyst for the region’s creative planning and expression.

The 44,000 sq. ft. facility is located at 133 Second Avenue in downtown Decatur across from the Princess Theater. It represents an investment of more than $8.2 million dollars: $3.2M from each educational institution and $1.6M from Decatur and Morgan County ($800,000 each). College courses taught at the facility will lead to Associate of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees with class offerings that include art appreciation, painting, drawing, computer graphics, sculpture, ceramics, pottery and a teaching major leading to licensure for art instructors.

Non-credit, community education courses will be available to the public. Classes will be programmed to reflect the interests of local citizens. Instructors will include local talent as well as renowned masters.

The Grand Opening and unveiling of this facility is expected to be a week-long celebration. Planning includes free open house events for educators and the public as well as a milestone community fundraiser Gala Celebration. The mission of the Gala is to raise money to fund scholarships to seed the student population with the region's most talented and promising students and to create a permanent endowment to support long-range programming at the Center.

Calhoun Community College, Athens State University, the City of Decatur and Morgan County unite to appeal for your support of this milestone event. Funds raised will be used to create scholarships and to support community programming.