OUR MISSION
The Hudgens Center is devoted to showcasing artwork in its permanent collection and collaborate with local, national artists and curators to develop a range of exhibitions for its galleries. To achieve its mission to further education, the center offers an array of classes in a variety of mediums.
OUR STAFF
The dedicated staff of the Hudgens Center provides our community with the best exhibitions and educational opportunities.
LAURA BALLANCE
Executive
Director
CONNIE NORMAN
Director of Education
& Outreach
CRICKET ELLIOTT
Business Operations Manager
KATE DRISCOLL
Curator, Exhibitions & Permanent Collection
YESHA PANCHAL
Ceramics
Studio Manager
CHRISTINA KING
Guest Services
Associate
BETSY PRIEST
Garden & Grounds Coordinator
JOHN AWTREY
Marketing Manager
Awtrey Media Group
CALLY D'ANGELO
Rental & Event Coordinator
Dialogue Event Agency
OUR HISTORY
The Gwinnett Council for the Arts was formed in 1981 and renamed the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for Arts and Learning in 2016. The organization’s first home was the 2,000-square foot Williams House in Lawrenceville. It moved to the 7,000-square foot historic Lawrenceville Post Office and remained there until 1993, when it moved to its current location and renamed the Jaqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts in 2016.
The center is named in honor of the wife of Scott Hudgens, one of the most influential businessmen in the history of Gwinnett County.
A native of Atlanta, Mr. Hudgens began his career by developing single-family moves and graduated to constructing apartments, medical centers, nursing homes and office parks. He is best known for developing shopping centers in the Atlanta area, starting with Greenbriar Mall and Towne Center before building Gwinnett Place Mall, the first major shopping complex in Gwinnett County. He completed the Mall of Georgia in Buford on his 75th birthday.
Mr. Hudgens was a philanthropist who gave money to projects like the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter and the Peachtree Christian Hospice, which was built on the land he donated. He also donated the land for the Georgia National Cemetery for veterans in Canton.
Mr. Hudgens died in 2000 at age 77. His legacy continues through the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, which funds local charities.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NANCY HARRIS
Board Chair,
Former Mayor of Duluth
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KEVIN JONES
Vice Chair,
Oconee State Bank
GREG JOHNSON
Board Secretary,
Good Samaritan Health
Centers of Gwinnett
DEBRA KAY JEFFERSON
Board Treasurer,
Attorney at Law,
Private Practice
CHARISSE THOMAS
PayChex
TOM FRANCIS
Savannah College of
Art & Design
JT WU
Meadowlark Title
KRISTEN JOINER
Gas South District
DONNA RAPER
PKF International
QUENTIN MOSES
Queue Health
MELISSA BOWEN
MICHAEL BROWN
MADDISEN MORDEN
Buice Center, Gwinnett County Public Schools
Artist and Fabricator
Personify Shop
OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
KATE AWTREY-KING
Immediate Past Chair,
Awtrey Media Group
DANIEL SOSEBEE
Past Treasurer,
MST
JOE MIRANDA
Graphic Designer &
Artist
KRISTEN NELSON
Georgia-Pacific
