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The Arts Center @ 319

319 Main Street in the
Smithfield Historic District

757-357-7707

Hours:
Mon - Sat 9 AM to 5 PM
Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM
About the Isle of Wight Arts League

The home of the Isle of Wight Arts League, the Smithfield Cultural Arts Center (formerly, The
Collage) first opened to the public June 15, 1991 as a commercial art gallery. The Center for
many years was situated in a Victorian, turn-of-the-20th century house within the Smithfield
Historic District. In early 2009, it moved to a renovated hardware store in the Historic District
where it shares space with the Smithfield / Isle of Wight Visitor Center and was renamed The
Arts Center @ 319.

Shortly after its opening in the early 1990s, the operation of The Collage was assumed by the
Isle of Wight Arts League, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and
recognition of the arts as an important, multi-cultural contributor to the well being and growth
of the community.

The Isle of Wight Arts League has historically been active in arts education through rotating art
exhibits in the Arts Center's three galleries and through adult and youth classes in its dedicated
arts classroom.  Access to working artist studios brings unique direct exposure of the arts to
visitors and students. More recently, the Isle of Wight Arts League has expanded its
contributions to the community with two music programs.

In March 2005, the Isle of Wight Arts League joined The Smithfield Times as co-sponsors for
the Summer Concert Series. The Series, hosted for 22 seasons by the John and Anne Edwards,
owners and publishers of the Smithfield Times, on its front lawn in the Historic District, offers
free concerts for the community on Friday evenings from May through August.

In 2005, the Isle of Wight Arts League also entered into a partnership with Smithfield Music, a
venture created by Jim and Elaine Abicht, to present performances by top tier professional
musicians in a family-friendly venue, the Smithfield Little Theater. Net proceeds from
Smithfield Music events are be donated to the school music programs in Isle of Wight County.
Meet the Isle of Wight Arts League team

The Arts Center @ 319 Staff and Volunteers
Sheila Gwaltney , Director
Priscilla Barbour
Katie Bartlett
Rhonda Carlson
Patti Garver
JoAnn Hall
Brenda Joyner
Candace Lewis
Peggy Walsh


The Isle of Wight Arts League Board of Directors
Aaron Hill, President
Rick Bodson, Vice President
Steve Jordan, Treasurer  
John Edwards, Secretary
Jim Abicht, Director
Sheila Gwaltney, Director
Rhonda Carlson, Director
Dianne Pollard, Director
Ed Condra, Director
Wayne Stallings, Director