A Very Mona Christmas

The Carroll County Arts Council was formed in 1969 by a group of volunteers who wanted to make the arts part of the everyday fabric of Carroll County life. In the 1980’s they hired a professional director and gradually played a larger role in the life of this community. About that time the Arts Council also became formally affiliated with Carroll County as one of the officially recognized Recreation Councils. While no longer a Recreation Council, the CCAC maintains an active partnership with the County through the Office of Tourism and the Recreation and Parks Department. The Arts Council is a private 501© 3 non-profit corporation which enables us to raise additional private funds to augment our public support.

The creation of the Carroll Arts Center was the result of a partnership between the City of Westminster, Carroll County Recreation & Parks Department and the Arts Council. Together we purchased and renovated the 1937 movie theatre on Main Street. It’s one of only two art deco structures in this county…the other being East Middle School. The original 850-seat Carroll Theatre opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1937 and was “the” place to go. The renovated facility opened in April of 2003 with a 263-seat theatre as well as space devoted to galleries, classrooms, and visitor amenities. The building is now owned by the City of Westminster and leased to the Arts Council for $1 per year.

Today, the Carroll Arts Center acts as a performing arts space, a visual art gallery, and a cultural hub for creatives in Carroll County and beyond.