Our History

Our History

Winnsboro Center for the Arts celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2021 and commissioned a video to celebrate this milestone.  We invite you to view the video Winnsboro Center for the Arts – Twenty Years in the Making here.

Winnsboro Center for the Arts (WCA) is a vibrant, multidisciplinary cultural center in the heart of the Cultural Arts District and hosts a variety of activities from concerts, theater productions, and art exhibits to classes, workshops, and literary events. Activities geared especially for children include music and art lessons and summer camps.  Festivals include the Art & Wine Festival and Festival of Books.

Originally established by a group of local artists and concerned citizens in 2001 as Trails Country Center for the Arts, the Center’s name was changed to Winnsboro Center for the Arts in 2009 by its Board of Directors. The Center’s location at 200 Market Street was renovated in 2014. Since then, it has experienced steady growth. It now has a small staff of one full-time and two part-time employees and an annual operating budget of around $200,000.  More than 5,000 people from around the state participate in its activities each year.

The Bowery Stage Listening Room, founded in 2014, attracts singer/songwriters from all over the country.  Peter Yarrow, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Michael Martin Murphey, Sophia Talvik John McEuen, and Martin Sexton have all performed on The Bowery Stage, just to name a few.

A Sunday afternoon classical concert series was added in 2016 in response to requests for more classical programming. The series was well-received and has attracted new visitors to the WCA.

The summer camp program has expanded in recent years to include a variety of activities such as musical theater, drama, music, art and ceramics.  The camps have become a highlight of the children’s programming.

Winnsboro Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The breadth of activities offered through the Center is made possible through the generous support of its members, sponsors, and its many dedicated volunteers. The Board of Directors wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to all of those who provide support.