When the Yadkin Arts Council’s Cultural Arts Center opens in downtown Yadkinville Sept. 18, 2010 to reveal classrooms, an art gallery, internet café, staff offices, catering kitchen and outdoor stroll way and pavilion, construction will roll on Phase II of the Center – the renovation of a 192-seat performing arts theater, thanks to a generous and timely donation by Marion and Jewell Welborn of Boonville.

The Welborns characterize the people behind the Cultural Arts Center: They speak softly, work humbly and give quietly. The million dollars raised to date for construction of the Center has not come from the government or from taxes but from the people themselves, large donors and small, and from foundations and grant applications. It’s not been easy to raise a million dollars in the current economic environment. But the desire to build a home for the arts, a place where families can gather in their own community - to watch artists perform, view an exhibit, craft clay into form, or gather outdoors by the stroll way and fountain on a warm summer night - the desire for an “our town” experience never waned throughout the four-year capital campaign. The campaign is on-going with an additional $800,000 needed for completion of the theater.

Board president John Willingham has worked tirelessly to build the Center and folks like the Welborns got behind him. “We hope our gift encourages others to support the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center. It’s such an important project for the people and the growth of Yadkin County,” says Jewell Welborn, whose North Carolina roots, like her husband Marion’s, go back eight generations. Marion’s father was active in politics and Marion is following suit, throwing his hat in the ring for Yadkin County Commissioner this year.

“The Welborn’s generosity enables us to move ever closer to our dual goal to bring a community together and enhance economic development through the vehicle of art in this underserved region of 37,000 people. Hopefully many other Yadkin County citizens will be motivated by the Welborn’s gift to help create this special place in our community,” Willingham said.

The celebration of the public opening of the center on Sept. 18 coincides with the Yadkin Arts Council’s annual Harvest Festival. Yadkinville will close three streets downtown on opening day. Activities will wrap around Elm, Jackson and Main Streets.

The Yadkin Arts Council was founded in 1975 as a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation. The mission of the Yadkin Arts Council is to enrich the lives of Yadkin County citizens through the arts. The council’s interim location until August is 208 N. Jackson St., Yadkinville, NC 27055. Phone: 336-679-2941.

To contact the council, e­mail yadkinarts@yadtel.net. The Yadkin Cultural Arts Center is located at 226 N. Main St., Yadkinville. Information about the council and the center is available at www.yadkinarts.org.