A Space to Create

Community Art Space Beautifies Backside of Historic Theatre

Arts of the Pamlico (AOP) began its partnership with the Pamlico Rose Institute’s (PRI) and their Wellness Corps initiative with Director Rob Sands in late 2025 to transform the Historic Turnage Theatre’s backside into a vibrant sanctuary for learning and creativity.

The back of the theatre had received limited "love" over the years since the restoration was completed in 2008. It had become a pigeon roost with scattered trash. It was the ideal spot to beautify in terms of sun, a watering supply for the plants, a flat surface adjacent to the theatre for the provision of art programs and plenty of foot traffic, free parking and visibility inviting public access. Each week the Living Canvas has new art added, like the mosaics by AOP's youth art campers and Tuesday Painters which are seen by hundreds of people each week who park behind the theatre to shop and eat downtown, utilize County and City facilities and more.The space has been an unsightly area for years and desperately needed beautification. .

Over a 8-month period between November 2025 and June 2026 the beginnings of a public art & wellness garden was designed and installed with support from shared PRI’s project funding and donations to AOP.

The garden is comprised of native NC plants curated by Master Gardener, Lisa Hodges. The garden is already serving as an outdoor classroom and a gallery for local public art with plans for more programs, see below.

Led by Passion, Cared by Community

This project was spearheaded and co-designed by AmeriCorps/PRI Wellness Corps member Lisa Hodges, a Master Gardner and Artist & AOP’s Executive Director, Debra Torrence. Installation has been supported by Paul Harding, Anthoney Wooden & Williams Figueroa.

It's a beautiful community effort. Neighbor Stubborn Mule graciously provides us with the water source to keep the garden plants happy. And a community & AOP "watering brigade" has formed including Stubborn Mule's Ronnie Forman, Gigi Jackson, David Carraway, Scot Hodges, Lisa Hodges, Greg Barmer and AOP’s Grace Bowers, Ruby Figueroa, Paul Harding, Debra Torrence, and Anthoney Wooden.

Garden Happenings Coming Up

A new mural by the Washington Montessori Public Charter School youth led by artist and school teacher, Meredith Loughlin, will be installed in august under Mary Alice Johnston’s school of metal fish .

Grand Opening

The grand opening of the garden is scheduled for 5:30 PM on August 14, 2026. Piano music will be provided by Makayla Gilbertson and a free finger painting activity for youth & adults with Carolyn Burtt McDearmon.

Expanding Team

Grace Bowers joined the AOP team this spring. She will become part of the PRI/ AmeriCorps team in August. Grace will continue to maintain and develop the garden with the community and artists and utilize the space for workshops supported by Anonymous Trust and AARP. And Lisa will continue to consult as a Master Gardener and volunteer to support the beautiful space she curated inbetween a busy travel schedule.

The AOP/PRI partnership will continue into 2027 as the ever-expanding community group of gardeners, artists, youth, and community supporters work together to create a vibrant, welcoming space that promotes creativity, healthy living and community space.Thanks to an added year of partnership with PRI and a grant from an AARP Community Challenge that AOP was recently awarded, a series of outdoor programs and more additions to the garden are coming later this summer and fall.

Programs in the Garden

This past spring youth art programs resulted in some of the public mosaic arts and benches you will find in the garden.

Programs Online

Pamlico Rose Institute invites those interested in nature-based wellness to take their newest online course, the Biocultural Garden. This foundational course is part of EdenBloom, our integrated wellness education and community engagement program grounded in the understanding that human health is inseparable from our relationship with nature. The Biocultural Garden course starts July 27 and explores the deep and enduring relationship between humans and the natural world through a biocultural lens—biological, cultural, and ecological while also offering a guide to designing nature-based wellness into gardens and greenspaces. The course features modules that require 1-2 hours a week across six weeks of guided instruction. The course is free of charge. For more information, contact registrar@pamlicorose.org or email robert@pamlicorose.org.

Enjoy & Contribute

We invite the community and visitors alike to visit the garden and join us in enjoying and even caring for the space. All are welcome to reach out to Grace at programs@artsofthepamlico.org to contribute to the work of or share a donation.

Keep an eye on the AOP website for upcoming series of outdoor art workshops and programs for youth and adults coming up at the Turnage. And watch for more additions! This summer and fall AOP will utilize recently awarded funding from AARP’s Community Challenge grant program this fall to add garden furniture, shade structure and surfacing. Grant funds will also support the development of creativity spaces in front of the theatre with furniture and shade structures, complimented by AOP’s existing space, adorned by native plants.

About the ARRP Community Challenge

The Community Challenge is an AARP grant program that makes communities more livable for people of all ages by supporting tangible, quick-action improvements that jump-start long-term change. In its milestone 10th anniversary year, the AARP Community Challenge grant program is continuing its growth and impact nationwide. To access AARP’s Livable Community resources click here . To learn more about this initiative, sign up for the free AARP Livable Communities newsletter here.