Our Humble Beginning

Hammond Regional Art Center celebrates its 30th year of bringing the arts to our area. Thanks to the coalition of Hammond Art Guild, Hammond Heritage Foundation, Columbia Theater Players, Hammond Arts Council and the Hammond Central Business District, the Hammond Cultural Foundation - now known as the Hammond Regional Art Center - was created. The goal was “a centralized cultural, artistic and educational facility for the community.”

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The 1982 ribbon cutting and champagne reception for the grand opening of its permanent location in the Levy Building, 217 East Thomas Street, culminated three years of intense efforts by local citizens. Maya Levy, the first president of the Foundation, was instrumental in persuading Alyce Levy to donate the building to the city. In 1979 Larry Gray presented the proposal and resolution to the Hammond City Council to accept the building and lease it back to the Foundation for $1 a year. After a public hearing, this action was approved and work began. Volunteers dedicated to the project, rolled up their sleeves and went to work—cleaning, scrubbing and painting. Since its auspicious beginnings, the Hammond Regional Arts Center has been a driving force in the community.

Three years after the opening, in 1985, Marjorie Morrison appeared before the Tangipahoa Parish Police Jury with a resolution to make the Foundation the official arts organization of the parish, and this was unanimously approved by the governing body.

Initially, the foundation was run by dedicated volunteers, but as activities and duties increased, a director was hired. Local, regional and nationally acclaimed art exhibits have been a monthly offering since the art center’s inception. In cooperation with the New Orleans Museum of Art, the center has hosted Haitian Art, Monet, Hawaiian Cultural Display and a Japanese Art Exhibit that drew over 400 viewers. In recent years the Arts Center hosts over 8,000 visitors annually. In April 2012 the George Rodrigue Blue Dog Exhibit on loan from NOMA will hang in the gallery as part of the celebration of the Hammond Regional Arts Center’s 30th year and as a toast to the arts locally.

Membership, volunteers and fund raisers have been an integral part of HRAC’s ongoing success. March culminates the nonprofit’s annual, month-long membership drive with a stellar celebration at the Center in April. Members are invited to all exhibition receptions, given discounts on services like classes and workshops for kids and adults, and first dibs on highly sought-after event tickets. Workshops such as kite-making in March, Valentine creations in February and painted pumpkins in October are popular for children. Summer art camps – for both children and adults – in drawing, sketching, fiber art, silk painting, basket-weaving, jewelry making and other art forms are taught by local artists and filled to capacity. Activities at the Arts Center are catered to, but not limited to, the HRAC membership. Many area residents get their first view of the only multi-discipline arts center in the parish through a class, before joining the membership. Others attend one of the center’s fabulously creative fund-raising events like the Culinary Arts Series (now in its 15th year), held at the Alack Culinary Superstore annually, or the Brews Arts Festival – a new, but highly anticipated event each year in September.

Expanding on the typical 2-demensional, visual arts, the Hammond Regional Arts Center building was home for many years to the Columbia Theater Players. The Octavians, a theater group for young people had its start in the Levy Building. The first Nutcracker held in Hammond was produced by HRAC, and with the cooperation of area dance teachers, the production held at the Vonnie Borden Theater on the Southeastern campus was a tremendous success! Also in conjunction with Southeastern Louisiana University Fanfare, Arts Center was instrumental in bringing the Missoula’s Children Theater. Local children thronged to the auditions and many got their first chance to perform.

The literary arts have not been neglected. For many years the Book Club met on the second Tuesday of the month, and the writer’s group on the 4th Tuesday, with a once-a-month Poetry Slam that was held at local cafés. HRAC held the reception for Pulitzer Prize winner Olen Butler when he was featured in Fan Fare at the home of Beryl Edwards Trawick.

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The Art Center’s reach spans far beyond its doors in Downtown Hammond and even farther than Tangipahoa Parish!  Proof of this impact came during a poetry and literature festival brought entries from all parts of the globe. More recently, the first ever “Digital Art Exhibition,” displayed on Lamar Digital Billboards throughout Hammond featured artwork from as far away as British Columbia, as well as many local professional and non-professional artists. Closer to home, in cooperation with the Mayor’s Commission on Women, HRAC helped underwrite the sculpture by the late Helen Entrikin, placed in front of the Hammond City Hall. HRAC adopted West Side Elementary and labeled and catalogued art slides for student viewing. The organization sponsored the NOMA VanGo exhibit to bring the art van to local schools. HRAC has organized trips to Walter Anderson Museum in Ocean Springs, NOMA in New Orleans and to other destinations for art enthusiasts.

With the roster of activities, the level of participation, and its influence on the citizens’ quality of life, in 1994 the Hammond Regional Arts Center was instrumental in having Hammond named one of the 100 Best Art Towns in America. And the pace has not slackened since. Though membership month is officially in March, the Hammond Regional Arts Center would like to encourage you to join today! Everyone is welcome, no matter your artistic skill level or your place of residence. Your support is needed. Please help the Hammond Regional Arts Center continue to provide a cen.ter for culture and the arts to our community. At HRAC, there is much to celebrate and more to create!

Please join us!  www.hammondarts.org/membership