GBJ Staff

Making the arts work for Gwinnett

The Gwinnett Ballet Theatre performs A MIdsummer's Night Dream at the Gwinnett Center. Photo by Richard Calmes.

by Sally Corbett

Artworks! Gwinnett is on a mission to enhance the arts landscape in Gwinnett County by increasing visibility, participation and support for arts opportunities that, in turn, enrich lives, communities and the local economy.

As an independent non-profit, tax-exempt public charity, Artworks! Gwinnett makes the arts ‘work’ for our communities by fostering a vibrant arts scene as well as providing educational and networking opportunities to further build the area’s cultural offerings.

Collectively, the arts drive more than $1 million into Gwinnett’s economy on an annual basis. (Read the Economic Significance of Tourism in Gwinnett) Did you know that arts organizations present approximately 30 percent of all public events in Gwinnett each year? That conservative estimate climbs if you add the abundance of presentations by schools and faith-based organizations.

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett gets heart healthy

Hundreds descended upon the Gwinnett Center to Take the Pledge for a Healthy Heart. Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) hosted a community celebration in recognition of the new Strickland Heart Center with a free educational event open to the community.  Participants were encouraged to sign-up to take a pledge to live a heart healthy lifestyle.

This event served as an interactive forum to encourage to the community to jumpstart a heart healthy lifestyle. It was also a chance to broaden awareness for the services provided by GMC to aid in their transformational journey. Event highlights included screenings and educational booths, health risk counseling, cooking demonstrations by an award winning chef, complimentary chair massages and fitness classes led by certified fitness instructors for Yoga, Pilates, Zumba and Cardio Dance.

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GBJ Staff

Suwanee events snag two regional awards

The Suwanee Day flash mob, organized by the Royal Dance Academy for the Sept. 17, 2011, festival.

The City of Suwanee brought home two Kaleidoscope Awards from the Southeast Festivals and Events Association. Suwanee’s 9-11 commemorative event and ‘Remembrance’ unveiling received a gold award in the Best New Event category while a flash mob performance at the 2011 Suwanee Day Festival was recognized with a silver award in the Best Event within an Event category.

Suwanee’s 9-11 commemorative event, held Sept. 10, 2011 , featured the unveiling of a 1,638-pound steel artifact from the World Trade Center. Suwanee was one of 24 communities in Georgia to receive an artifact from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The artifact is currently off exhibit while the City considers a permanent display and location.

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GBJ Staff

New Snellville retailer saves local theatre

A scene captured from New London Theatre's performance of "Children of Eden."

Welcome to the neighborhood! Margins Charity Thrift and Variety Mall has yet to officially open, but this new Snellville retailer has already has the distinct honor of saving a beloved community theatre.

Dawn Berlo, board chair for New London Theatre, believes in second chances. Due to financial hardship, this troupe was poised draw its final curtain at the end of March. However, when the owner of new Snellville retailer Margins Charity Thrift and Variety Mall, Mark Galloway-Stillions, learned the theatre was in trouble, this friend and patron offered the local non-profit rent free space – 6,000 s.f. doubling the theatre’s current space!

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett Braves unveil non-profit partnership series

Participating organizations will have the chance to raise awareness for the non-profit cause of the game.

The Gwinnett Braves have a new community initiative for the 2012 season aimed at helping local organizations raise awareness and funds for their causes. The Non-Profit Partnership Series, an all-inclusive program that allows multiple organizations who volunteer for a common cause to rally together, will debut this April and run through August.

The series will follow the monthly themes of the Gwinnett Braves Grant Program. Although grant recipients from 2011 and 2012 will get special recognition, the series is not just limited to grant applicants. All non-profit groups that fall under the event theme are invited to participate.

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett treasures its arts assets

(L-R) Judy Waters, Teresa Osborn and Sally Corbett with Artworks! Gwinnett Vision Award honoree Margaret Parsons Andrews

Artworks! Gwinnett honored the local arts community at its inaugural awards event in January for achievements spanning decades as well as the community impact of individuals and organizations from Dec. 1, 2010 through Dec. 1, 2011.

Margaret Parsons Andrews received the evening’s highest honor, the ‘Vision Award,’ to celebrate her lifelong commitment to the arts and her vision for what is now the Hudgens Center.

“The inaugural ArtWorks! Gwinnett awards showed the strength and diversity of Gwinnett’s arts community,” said Sally Corbett, executive director, ArtWorks! Gwinnett. “The process of creating this arts celebration had a galvanizing effect for many participants…It is already inspiring future collaborations and a greater awareness of the scope of Gwinnett’s arts assets.”

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GBJ Staff

27th Annual Candlelight Ball is March 17

Reserve your seat for the Mar. 17 Candlelight Ball benefiting CADEF: The Childhood Autism Foundation.

The Annual Candlelight Ball will be held on March 17, 2012 at the InterContinental Hotel, Buckhead celebrating twenty-seven years serving children, adults and families affected by autism

The Candlelight Ball is the major fund-raising event for CADEF: The Childhood Autism Foundation. Proceeds fund programs and services for individuals and families affected by autism throughout Georgia.

Cindy Simmons and Heather Branch, Star 94 radio personalities, will act as co-mistresses of ceremonies. The black-tie event begins with a cocktail reception at 7 p.m., followed by a three-course dinner and dancing to the high-energy music of the The Grapevine Band playing songs of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Guests will be able to bid on an array of desirable items in silent and live auctions during the evening.

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GBJ Staff

Sports far more than just a game

by Stan Hall

Who doesn’t love sports? Sporting events have gained a more prominent stature as a very integral part of our economy. Although many of us have made drastic cuts in our personal budgets to adjust to a stagnant economy, sports marketing and related event venues continue to flourish.

This is especially true as it pertains to ‘new money’ that sporting events inject into a local economy. Everyone benefits as event attendees need a place to stay and eat and the miscellaneous costs for an out of town event are spent in local retail outlets.

While it’s true that an event does not necessarily have to involve sports to be this economic driver, trends from recent years tell us that sporting events are financial catalysts. This phenomenon is compelling many government agencies to look at the concept of establishing sports commissions to identify and recruit events to their venues. Gwinnett County is far ahead of the curve in this matter and has had its Sports Commission in place for several years through the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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GBJ Staff

Renowned 80-year-old artist to exhibit in Lawrenceville

“First Light” is an oil on canvas, ©Robert Christie – all rights reserved.

Legendary artist Robert Christie will greet patrons at the opening reception of his one-man show from 5 to 7 p.m., January 24 at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville, Ga.

The exhibit runs through Apr. 10, 2012 and is open to the public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Robert Christie has become one of the best-known dog and sporting artists in the South. A graduate of Pratt Institute where he studied illustration, Christie concentrated his post-graduate study of portrait painting at Pratt and at The Art Students League, both in N.Y.

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GBJ Staff

Lifeguard and instructor opportunities

Gwinnett Parks and Recreation will hold an ‘in pool’ interactive job fair Feb. 3, 2012 from 6-9 p.m. at Bethesda Park Aquatic Center in Lawrenceville to share details about lifeguard and instructor opportunities. The fair is free and is open to both certified and uncertified lifeguards.  Be sure to wear or bring a swimsuit.

Teens 15 years of age prior to the last day of the last certification course are eligible to become certified lifeguards for the 2012 season. Parents are also welcome to attend the job fair.

For further information about certification training or for questions about the County’s aquatics program visit www.gwinnettparks.com or call 770-822-8849.

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