IGNITING CHANGE THROUGH ART

Amid its thriving community of actors, musicians, comedians and artists, the City of Lawrenceville has always been an avid supporter of the arts. In an effort to further elevate the community of local doers and makers, the City of Lawrenceville recently invested $41 million into the development of the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC).

The 59,500-square-foot arts center opened in October 2021, bringing with it a 500seat Grand Theatre, an art gallery, and four other performing spaces. With five different entertainment venues across the two-building campus, the LAC has the ability to accommodate a diverse array of artistic events including concerts, plays, comedy acts, art classes, community events and more.

The venues each offer differently sized stages and performance spaces to accommodate all group sizes and needs. Each comes with a wide range of amenities including ADA compliance, full bars, catering services, in-house AV and event support and consultations with LAC staff. These spaces are available to outside arts groups and the public to rent for any use from full-scale productions to education to weddings and celebrations.

A piece of the inspiration behind the development of the arts center comes from Lawrenceville’s long-standing partnership with Aurora Theatre, the second-largest professional theater company in Georgia and Gwinnett’s only professional theater.

In 2007, the theatre relocated from a converted hardware store in Duluth to a 100-year-old church in Lawrenceville, now the Bobby Sikes Fine Arts Building.

“I have seen the incredible partnership between the City and Aurora. There is a deeply shared desire to bring this campus to life. The experience is driven by passion on both sides,” noted John Geertsen, Lawrenceville Arts Center complex general manager.

The economic benefits that developed over the course of the City’s 15-year partnership with Aurora Theatre were the driving force in the decision to expand fine arts in

Lawrenceville through the LAC. In 2014, Aurora Theatre generated $3,244,550 for the local economy, according to Explore Gwinnett’s economic impact study.

The investment has already begun to positively impact the local economy. Since opening, the LAC employs over 500 artists and employees, entertains hundreds of Gwinnett County school children daily—11,500 students in January alone—and attracts 40% of its audience from areas outside Gwinnett County.

The Lawrenceville Arts Center is a visual representation of Lawrenceville’s commitment to the arts. Our partnership with the Aurora Theatre and many years of hard work on the part of numerous determined individuals have delivered a one-of-akind facility.

David Still Mayor

With inclusion at the heart of Aurora Theatre’s mission, its presence as the LAC’s complex manager and operator offers a new way to celebrate the region’s rich cultural fabric. Aurora Theatre addresses social issues and amplifies underrepresented voices in its performances. LAC productions by both Aurora Theatre and outside companies like Southern Ballet Theatre and Central Gwinnett’s School of the Arts work to facilitate conversations of cultural heritage, social change and self-expression locally and nationally.

By celebrating our shared humanity and embracing our differences, we can build a stronger, more inclusive society that nurtures the arts and values the contributions of every individual.

The LAC also uplifts community partners and the work they do in the local arts community. Central Gwinnett’s School of the Arts, Georgia Gwinnett College and Discovery High School are just a few of the center’s loyal partners and loving patrons.

The LAC is a major stepping stone in Lawrenceville and Aurora Theatre’s shared mission to foster acceptance and spread performing arts appreciation far outside metro Atlanta. Until those goals are achieved, and long after, the LAC promises to continue pushing boundaries, sparking conversations, chasing creativity and inspiring the next generation of performers and creators.