The 567 Center for Renewal dreams of a vibrant downtown Macon filled with successful businesses and creative professionals, a downtown filled with the arts and enjoyed by people of all ages from all places. The Center serves as a collaborative community space where entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians bring creative life to downtown Macon through events, classes, and business development. For the last six years, The 567 Center has been a pillar of quality life in downtown Macon and a vibrant catalyst for community strength and economic development.
What started as a venue for concerts and art exhibits evolved to offer so much more: weekly art classes, workspace for more than twenty businesses, professional workshops, lunchtime dance parties, spoken-word performances, film festivals, and literary conferences. These programs have brought hundreds of people to downtown Macon and reshaped people’s ideas of what downtown Macon is and could be.
The heart of what we do has always been the arts, because art is a powerful vehicle for growth. Arts events and experiences can create jobs, attract tourism dollars, and give people a stronger connection to Macon. Some of our 2016 accomplishments follow:
We attracted 500-plus people to downtown Macon with arts events at The 567.
More than one-third of those who attended our art classes lived outside of Macon. People came from as far as Milledgeville and Americus for our classes.
We gave more than thirty artists an opportunity to share their talents and earn income by either teaching classes or exhibiting their work at The 567.
We provided guidance and assistance for the Lost Keys Literary Festival, which brought writers from across the country to Macon for its second year.
In 2016 we also purchased a new building and moved from Cherry Street to First Street. We completed many renovations and repairs when we moved, but there is still much work left to do in our new space. In addition to these building improvements, goals for our organization include increasing the quantity and diversity of our programs and becoming more financially sustainable.
The 567 Center is funded mainly by income from our art classes and by the generous support of our community. We are indebted to the members and donors who have already contributed to our success over the past six years. Nevertheless, successful fundraising efforts are necessary in order for us to continue to increase our community impact. Donations allow us to make capital improvements to enhance the patron experience, attract and retain talented staff to carry out our mission, and expand the types of art classes we offer.
Whether you have previously donated your funds or your time, or attended one of our many workshops, exhibits, and other events, you are a part of making The 567 a vibrant part of our community. In the spirit of that same community, we encourage you to consider making a donation to The 567 to help us continue to bring creative life to downtown Macon in the coming year.
Giving online is safe and easy! Just click on "Donate Now" below. You can also donate with a debit or credit card by phone at (478) 238-6051, or by mail with a check payable to “The 567 Center” at 456 First Street, Macon, GA 31201.