The Cultural Exploratory Committee (CEC) here in Fuquay-Varina has been working hard on the logistics surrounding what it would take to locate a cultural arts and conference center somewhere in the community. Although many residents and town leaders acknowledge that a cultural arts center would be a great addition to the town’s general landscape, opinion on what such a center should include or look like (or even be located) ranges widely. Last spring, the CEC embarked on a year-long study of the pros and cons of locating a performing arts facility that can double as a conference center in our town. They are now at a point in the process where they need public input on what features residents would like to see in a facility like that.

“Residents have been complaining about the lack of a decent performing arts venue in town,” says Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association Executive Director Naomi Riley. “Even with the opening of a great venue like STARS Theater in the Fuquay retail district, we still hear that there is a need for a large space that can keep our dance studios, thespian groups, musical organizations, and visual artists from needing to leave our community to share their talents.”

The CEC is a cross-section of our community with members from many different industries and organizations. This committee will be hosting a visioning meeting on October 9 at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 402 N. Main Street. During the meeting, which is being run by a professional facilitator, the committee wants to hear your hopes and dreams for a cultural arts/conference center space in Fuquay-Varina. The committee sees this as a great quality of life and business need in our community and understands the economic impact of a facility like this on our community.

“In addition to a bigger performing and visual arts space, the business community here in town has long needed a conference facility that holds over 200 people,” explains Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tommy Broadwell. “Right now, industry leaders in Fuquay-Varina, such as Bob Barker Company and John Deere, are forced to use larger spaces in Raleigh and beyond to hold conferences and training events. Imagine the positive economic impact if those people could meet, eat, and spend the night right here in town instead.”

The CEC also has a very active Facebook page called “Friends of Fuquay-Varina Cultural Arts.” Residents are encouraged to “like” the page to receive up-to-the-minute information about the CEC’s activity and any developments involving the possible cultural arts and conference center.

Any and all residents are encouraged to attend the Visioning Meeting on October 9. Registration is preferred so that seating arrangements can be planned prior to the event. To register for the Visioning Meeting, go to the FVRA’s website at www.fuquay-varinadowntown.com and click on the “Cultural Arts & Conference Center” graphic in the middle of the page. Enter your email address, and you’re done!

The CEC would like to thank all residents and businesspeople in the town of Fuquay-Varina for their support and encouragement throughout this process. For more information about the Visioning Meeting on October 9, please call the FVRA at (919) 552-0848, or the Chamber of Commerce at (919) 552-4947.

The Cultural Exploratory Committee is a group of engaged citizens who are passionate about the arts and finding facility space in Fuquay-Varina that will nurture and showcase our growing artist community. For more information about the committee or about how to get involved with this effort, please contact Naomi Riley at (919) 552-0848 or Lynanne Fowle at (919) 201-5457.