It’s true, the Johns Creek Arts Center is no more. After so many years of service, the time had finally come… for a new name!
Enter The Art Center! We have a new name, a new website, a new logo, but the same commitment to bringing art and creativity to our community.
You might be wondering why we’ve changed the name, especially if you’ve gotten used to talking about “the JCAC” for the past couple of decades. Over the years, we’ve encountered many instances of confusion from people who assume that the “Johns Creek” in our name meant that we were not available for people who don’t live within city limits. Our goal has always been to create a very open and accessible space for creative minds to get together to learn and make art, and the thought that people might not feel like they were welcome to take classes or workshops with us because they live in a neighboring city does not support that goal.
With the new name, we are looking forward to a more expansive future, with potential to grow beyond the borders of our home city to connect and create with the wider art community.
This is not the first time our name has changed. The Art Center was founded in 1996, a decade before the incorporation of the city of Johns Creek. Back then we were called the Ocee Art Center, but even then, our mission was the same: to make art accessible to the community. At the time, this area was an unincorporated and underserved area of Fulton County, and a group of visionary artists and advocates founded this art hub with the assistance of the Fulton County Council for the Arts in a unique public/private partnership.
The Ocee Art Center began in a small building in the area that’s now behind the Johns Creek High School. In 2005 we moved into our current building on Abbotts Bridge Road, seeking more space for classes and the ability to open up a clay studio. If you’ve paid attention to our front desk, you may have noticed the hand painted tiles that decorate it, some of which feature the Ocee name and the year 2005. Instructor Leslie Murphy, who joined The Art Center in 2006, recalls stories of the building’s grand opening event, where community members painted the tiles, which were then fired in the brand new kiln room.
The City of Johns Creek was founded in December of 2006, and a year or two later The Ocee Art Center changed its name to the Johns Creek Art Center in solidarity with the fledgling city. We have grown with our community and reached out beyond its borders with our classes, outreach programs, and opportunities for exhibitions and careers for artists in Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, and beyond.
With the growth of our artistic community, a name tied to a city felt too restrictive. We hope our new name feels more welcoming to people both in and outside of the bounds of Johns Creek, and we’re looking forward to a big and open future of creativity!