Arts of the Albemarle

Arts of the Albemarle is a nonprofit art center in historic downtown Elizabeth City, North Carolina, serving as the regional arts council for Pasquotank and Camden counties. It occupies the Lowry-Chesson building, constructed in 1895 as a department store and theater and later home to a Vaudeville stage and silent cinema. After years of abandonment, a four-million-dollar community preservation campaign restored the building into a full arts facility with galleries, a performing arts theater, and studios. For events, the center offers several distinct spaces. The Gallery links a series of connected first-floor exhibition rooms, hosting gatherings for up to 250 guests amid rotating art exhibitions. The Maguire Theatre seats 226 in orchestra configuration and converts to a banquet setup for 135 to 150 guests, with full lighting and sound systems, a projector, and a screen. The third-floor Twiford Room, with its original inlaid wood ceilings and abundant natural light, suits ceremonies, luncheons, meetings, and recitals. Together the spaces accommodate weddings, galas, receptions, and dinners within a restored historic landmark.