Petersburg Regional Art Center

The Shockoe Bottom Arts Center began September 1994 with the primary mission to provide an opportunity for local artists to get their work before the public. The Art Center started with 50 studios and a large performance area. In May 1996 we added ten studios in the performance area and July 1998 we expanded to the second floor with 65 additional studios, and a new exhibition space called the Tobacco Gallery. The building used to be an old tobacco factory (the American Tobacco Company).

Below are links to information about SBAC - all open to a new window, close to return to this page.
The SBAC Circa 1994
Shockoe Bottom - Venture Richmond
American Tobacco Center

Closed June 28, 2003 - July 5, 2003:
The Shockoe Bottom Arts Center closed in Richmond because our lease was up and the owners of the building wanted to build apartments. The City of Petersburg offered us the old Rucker Rosenstock (Butterworth's) building downtown.

July 18, 2003:
The Petersburg Regional Art Center in Old Town Petersburg had its Grand Opening and first show July 18th, 2003. The center has a large gallery for our monthly juried All Media Show, 85 artist's studios, and the Mezzanine Gallery where we host six single artist shows a month.

The building was built in 1858. The total square footage of the building is 54,000 square feet. We are currently using 36,900 square feet.

Studios:
There are 85 studios. Seventeen large studios in the basement, twenty-eight small studios on the second floor, twenty medium studios on the third floor, and six in the mezzanine area. A studio layout and prices are available by contacting PRAC. Artists may use the studios for work and/or exhibition.

Monthly Juried All Media Show:
We do eleven juried shows a year. The receptions are on the second Friday of each month. Cash awards are $275 for 1st Place, $175 for 2nd Place and $75 for 3rd Place and three Honorable Mentions will get $25 each. To find out more about All Media Show go to gallery page or if you are interesting in entering artwork go to the entry page.

Mezzanine Gallery:
There are six areas for single artist shows. The shows open the same evening as our All Media Show. Mezzanine Gallery dates and other exhibition opportunities are listing on the gallery page or if you are interesting in entering artwork go to the entry page.

Today founder Rusty Davis's sister Donna Davis Jacobs is the director of PRAC. The assistant director is Donna's daughter Angela Long.

Petersburg Regional Art Center History