The lights begin to dim and a hush slowly comes over the audience. For a moment, the theater is dark and the air is charged with anticipation. Who is behind the curtain? Which song will they play first? Augusta knows that there’s nothing quite as exciting, fulfilling and inspiring as a deep submersion into arts and cultural experiences. Here the choice is yours: ballet, opera, plays, concerts, art exhibitions. In fact, after you’ve attended a few performances and perused the artwork at an exhibition or two, you’ll have to remind yourself that you’re not sitting in a famous theater or prestigious museum in New York City. You’re right at home in Augusta, where artistic talent and creativity blossom well beyond what you’d expect from a smaller city.

Augusta’s historic Imperial Theatre, which opened its stage in 1918 to vaudeville acts and photoplays, hosts an array of performers: dancers, actors, singers, jazz guitarists and comedians. It is here where you will most likely find some of Augusta’s major performing arts groups providing high-quality entertainment.

At 66-years-old, the Augusta Players is the oldest community theater company in Georgia.  This year, theater goers will enjoy performances such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol, Chicago, and The Sound of Music. The Augusta Ballet, celebrating its 48th season this year, always has an exciting schedule on tap with performances such as Remember Me and Ballet Hispanico. If you’re in the mood for music, the Augusta Opera entertains crowds with performances such as “A Night in Italy” and the Augusta Chorale Society will dazzle music fans with performances such as “Brass and Flash” in November and “A Baroque Christmas” in December.

And don’t forget about Le Chat Noir, the off-Broad Street theater that stages plays with a bit more edge and raunch. Productions on the line-up for the 2011-2012 season are: Ruthless!, Zombie Apocalypse Survival Camp, The Merriment of Minstrel Krampus, Becky Shaw, Quickies!, and Avenue Q.

The Columbia County Performing Arts Center and Amphitheatre stages performances by local musicians and the Columbia County Ballet throughout the year.  You can also catch the Symphony Orchestra Augusta in outdoor action at its Pops! Under the Stars concert series. Bring a blanket, spread it out on the lawn of University Hospital’s Evans campus and enjoy the sounds of violins and cellos dancing through the evening air. Of course, the Symphony’s music is so enchanting that you’ll attend their many performances at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center located inside the Columbia County Library, the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, the Bell Auditorium and First Baptist Church of Augusta.

You can enjoy additional musical performances at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater, an open-air theater boasting the scenic Savannah River as a backdrop. The 1,700-seat venue, named after native Augustan and opera superstar Jessye Norman, stages outdoor concerts, from pop to jazz to gospel.

The Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival, a celebration of the city’s ethnic community, will be entering its 31st  year in 2011. The festival showcases visual and performing arts and celebrates the ethnic groups who blend to create the heart of our city. Over 35 countries lend their ethnic flair and talents to the Festival. Arts in the Heart presents performances by local, regional and national entertainers throughout a weekend in September.  The dates for this year’s Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival are Sept. 16th-18th, 2011.

In early fall, the Westobou Festival, a 10-day arts extravaganza modeled after Charleston’s eclectic and internationally-renowned Spoleto Festival, takes center stage in Augusta. Performers and artists that have taken part in the Westobou Festival include the American Ballet Theatre, Al Green, The Blind Boys of Alabama, the Avett Brothers and Philip Morsberger. This year’s Westobou Festival will take place Sept. 29-Oct. 8, 2011.

Also consider the event lineup at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center. Throughout the year, the center displays exhibits showcasing local artists and two popular fundraisers: Dinner at Asti’s and the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a festive holiday event starring the Augusta Collegium Musicum. The Augusta Chorale Society and Augusta Children’s Chorale also perform at Sacred Heart throughout the year.

Moving on to the visual arts, let’s begin with a walk down the 1000 block of Broad Street, a trendy section of downtown known as Artists’ Row. Here you’ll find working studios and galleries that represent a variety of mediums including watercolor and oil painting, stained glass, sculpture, photography, pottery, jewelry and glass. During First Friday celebrations each month, visitors stroll through the studios, observe art demonstrations, listen to live music and dine at downtown restaurants.

Now take a walk over two blocks in the direction of the Savannah River and explore the Morris Museum of Art, the first museum in the country devoted to the art of the American South. On display are works beginning with the early naturalists to eclectic contemporary works by the best artists of the 21st century. Museum goers can also participate in an assortment of hands-on art programs, attend artist lectures and catch a musical performance. 

If you want to explore and develop your own artistic skills, consider some classes at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, housed in an 1818 mansion built for Augusta mayor, Nicholas Ware. Adults can inquire about the Gertrude’s docent program. Classes in drawing, painting, photography, pottery, weaving and sculpture are available for children and adults. The Gertrude also stages several important art exhibits throughout the year for your viewing enjoyment.