VALDOSTA — In a pivotal move at the August 2023 Valdosta City Council meeting, the council voted to sell the Mathis City Auditorium to South Georgia Medical Center at a negotiated price. Now, the city is at a crossroads, considering the future of performing arts in Valdosta.
The city has been conducting Performing Arts Center Focus Group meetings led by City Manager Richard Hardy to chart the path forward. These meetings aim to gather vital information and insights to inform the decision-making process regarding a new performing arts center (PAC).
The meetings include local leaders and professionals such as David DiSalvo, the executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center & Tourism Authority, and Sementha Mathews, the executive director of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts/Lowndes Valdosta Arts Commission.
During the most recent focus group meeting on Monday, participants delved into two critical questions: Can it be done? And what will it cost? The discussions hovered around the potential location of a new facility. One idea was that expanding an existing property, such as the Rainwater Conference Center, might be more cost-effective than constructing a new building from scratch.
The board revealed that the estimated cost of building a PAC would be at least $75 million. In contrast, incorporating the center into an existing property could significantly reduce expenses.
The city and the board hired an assessor to evaluate potential locations and make an informed decision. In Monday’s meeting, the board concluded that a second feasibility study is necessary to obtain detailed specifics and ensure the project’s viability. The board hopes that the feasibility study will guide them in the right direction, whether that involves constructing a new building or adding the PAC to an existing location.
Mayor Scott James Matheson expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “We’ve been in the PAC business for 70 years. We cannot just step away and say we are not in the PAC business anymore. It is a quality of life issue that I think is absolutely necessary.”
As the focus group continues its work, the residents of Valdosta are encouraged to come and observe the upcoming steps in this endeavor.