Page 66 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

LHUCA

LOUISE HOPKINS UNDERWOOD CENTER FOR THE ARTS

by Lindsey Maestri

A Firehouse Recycled

HUCA began as the Lubbock spaces. Our main building, the former Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm, and Sunday,
Regional Arts Center (LRAC) Fire Department Administration 12 – 5 pm. In addition, we program
Lin 1997. The City of Lubbock Building, houses four contemporary two satellite gallery spaces that feature
deeded the vacant Fire Department art galleries, as well as the 159-seat youth artists from regional schools
Administration Building to the Firehouse Theatre. Our iconic Graffiti and community groups. LHUCA’s
organization in 2000 to encourage the Building, a dedicated arts classroom, exhibitions are thoughtfully curated
creation of an arts and entertainment was once the building used by the to ensure that our visitors have a great
district in the downtown area. A city to store graffiti removal supplies. viewing experience.
capital campaign was launched, The Christine DeVitt Icehouse, a
and the facility was enlarged and large multipurpose building, was “Flatland Film Festival” is now
renovated between 2003 and 2005. In a refrigeration building for Borden entering its 17th year of bringing
2004, LRAC was renamed the Louise Dairy Company. The Helen DeVitt dynamic film programming to the
Hopkins Underwood Center for the Jones Clay Studio was a former South Plains region. This popular,
Arts in honor of our co-founder. maintenance garage for Borden Dairy three-day film event continues to
trucks. The campus also includes grow and offer more experiences for
Today, LHUCA is recognized as a a plaza with outdoor stage and filmmakers and enthusiasts in our
driving force behind the downtown amenities. community. “OneBook LBK” is our
revitalization plan, using the arts to annual literary program. This one
stimulate economic development. The center offers visual, performing, community reading program features
Creating this visual and performing film, and literary arts programs workshops, lectures, and discussions
arts center in the heart of the future through “weekly, seasonal, and on a chosen book. “West Texas Battle
Lubbock Cultural District has helped annual events. Every weekend, of the Bands” is another annual
foster a thriving arts community. LHUCA provides free arts experiences program of LHUCA which highlights
The center partners with arts venues as a part of our Weekends @LHUCA the musical talent in West Texas
throughout the cultural district, as program.” This includes art lectures, through an all-genre competition.
well as numerous departments at gallery talks, community dance
Texas Tech University, other local non- classes, Tai Chi in the galleries, poetry “First Friday Art Trail”, organized
profits, and local K-12 programs. readings, and Artful Family Hours, and managed by LHUCA, averages
featuring hands-on art activities. We 3,000 – 5,000 visitors each month
LHUCA’s campus includes four active also host a variety of other classes across 20 venues. Each month, this
buildings, all of which are repurposed throughout the year, like “Summer free, community-driven art event
Youth Art Camps” and showcases visual art, live music, and
“Brews & Brushes”. dance performances plus food and
interactive arts activities. A free trolley
Annually, we host over 40 service is provided by LHUCA to help
exhibitions in our gallery attendees easily get from venue to
spaces. Our four main venue.
galleries focus on regionally,
nationally, and internationally Our Helen DeVitt Jones Clay Studio
celebrated artists. These features the best equipped community
galleries are free and open facilities in the region. Local artists
to the public Tuesday – and clay enthusiasts enjoy classes

66 Lubbock Senior Link