Preble County Fine Arts Center

Mission

To foster a local environment for the people of Preble County and surrounding areas to come together and enrich their lives through the fine arts.

History

The Preble County Art Association was formed in 1965 as a fine arts guild dedicated to providing understanding, enlightenment, and participation in the fine arts through programs, classes, and exhibits.  Selma Dusenberry became the first president and Rosie McNees vice-president.

In 1974 the Association acquired a permanent home on the second floor of the St. Clair building in rooms renovated as teaching studios and galleries.

Fire totally destroyed the St. Clair building on April 1, 1987.  The PCAA lost all it had acquired in its 22 years.  Artists lost their artwork and Preble County lost its only art facility.

The PCAA decided to begin a fund drive to build a new building and on October 3, 1987, the project began with Rosie McNees, president, as project chairman.  In three years, contributions totaled $306,000 in cash, pledges, and in-kind contributions.

The third anniversary of the fire, April 1, 1990 was celebrated with a ground-breaking for the Preble County Art Center at 601 Hillcrest Drive in Eaton. The grand opening for the center was held October 13, 1990.

The Preble County Art Center, owned and operated by the Preble County Art Association, is dedicated as a “cultural opportunity facility” for all people of the community.

In 2014 the Preble County Fine Arts Center hired the organization's first Director, Vicky Fanberg. A process of rebranding and organization developement was started and the center is now called the Visual Art Center of Preble County.