The Historic Turnage Theatre building first opened as a bakery and shoe store with a vaudeville playhouse on the second floor. She recalled, "People come in and say, 'I did my first cartwheel on this stage' or 'I had my first kiss here.'" Torrence hopes memories will continue to be made for many years to come. When asked about her biggest accomplishment during her five-year tenure with AOP, Torrence said, "Taking the vision that the community had for this crown jewel of a theater and being able to engage the community and funders and taking it to the next level and really preserving it for generations to come." This article was written by our sponsor, Washington Tourism Development Authority.Īuthor Thomas Merton once said, "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Surely the arts have found their place in Washington, North Carolina.Īrts of the Pamlico (formerly Beaufort County Arts Council) is one of the oldest arts councils in North Carolina.įrom its humble beginnings in 1963 when a group of art lovers was asked to oversee an exhibit at the county fair, to its incorporation in 1972, to its purchase of the Historic Turnage Theatre in 2013, AOP is keeping the arts alive by providing cultural opportunities through initiation, support, and presentation of artistic programs in Beaufort County and the surrounding region.įormer Executive Director Debra Torrence stepped into that role in 2016 and has left a legacy of securing Washington and Beaufort County as a strong, vibrant arts center in the state. By Paula Stephenson, Washington Tourism Development Authority