Having exhibited work from Norman Rockwell to the art of the West African Republic of Mali,The Peninsula Fine Arts Center is a jewel in the crown of the VA art community.

The Peninsula Fine Arts Center is located on Museum Drive off the picturesque coast of the James River. Truly a center the PFAC, as it is refered to locally, is a hub for the art. Patrons find it both enlightning and enjoyable. The 2008 PFAC newsletter comments that," The Center is redefining the Pfac experience through significant innovations in every department and function of the organization with the goal of implementing thoughtful change to create sustainability for the next 50 years."

The Gallery

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. On Sundays from 1pm to 5 pm. In the evenings on Tuesdays it is open with free gallery admission from 5:30 to 8 pm. Admission varies to a large extent because of government funding over the years being given and then taken away. In recent years it has prove to be more constant. The website list the current prices as follows:

Full-price Individual Tickets:

Adults: $7.50

Children ages 6-12: $4.00

Children under 6: Free

Discounted Individual Tickets:

Adults: $6.00

(Available to seniors age 65+, active-duty military and dependents, students, teachers

and AAA members. Only one discount category per visitor.

To be eligible for group rates, there must be at least 6 members of the group

and reservations must be made prior to arrival.

Full-price Group Tickets:

Adults: $6.00

Children ages 6-12 $3.00

Children under 6 Free

Discounted Group Tickets:

Adults: $5.00

(Available to seniors age 65+, active-duty military and dependents, students, teachers and AAA members. Only one discount category per visitor.)

The Art

The Peninsula Arts Center features art from all corners of the globe. Expertly selected there is rarely a dull piece on the walls. The current works of artist explore motion and movement and include works of Frederic Remington, best known for art of the American West.

Arts Café

The highlight of the art community on the peninsula is three Thursdays of every month when from 5:30pm to 8 pm, Arts Café takes center stage in the main gallery of the museum. There is live music and heavy hors d'oeuvres. For members of the PFAC admission is free. Otherwise you may pay three dollars. Arts Café is a sophisticated approach to sightseeing and the atmosphere is always stimulating. Upcoming events include poetry nights with Pete Freas and the art of belly dancing.

Juried Art Exhibits

Annually the Peninsula Fine Arts Center does two riveting juried exhibits. One is called Genesis and features the local efforts of college students. The crop for these shows always bode well for the future of the Virginia up and coming art circle. The second exhibit is named Prefaces and supplies local high school students a taste of a quality art competition.

The Studio

The Peninsula Fine Arts Center offers a smorgasbord of options for the artist-in-training. Some instructors such as the ever popular, Betty Anglin have been teaching there for decades and have professional degrees from universities such as William and Mary and Cornell.

If that does not inspire confidence in you, let the fact that most classes fill up quickly and some have a waiting list pay testimony to the stellar instruction offered. Oriental landscape painting, art appreciation, drawing 101, color drawing and abstracting from nature are just some of the options offered. There is even a young art summer camp called ARTventures.