The Historic Thomas Center

01/22/2025

The Thomas Center Associates held their annual meeting on Tuesday, January 21st accompanied by members of the Duckpond Neighborhood Association. We appreciate these hard working volunteers who keep our Thomas Center gardens, period rooms and the adjacent neighborhood so special.

"The Thomas Center Associates, Inc. is a non-profit 501c-3 organization formed in 1979 to support the Thomas Center for the Arts. Our all-volunteer group, guided by our Board of Directors, strives to protect, enhance and promote the Thomas Center. We partner with the city of Gainesville, who owns the building which began its life as a home over 110 years ago. It evolved into a hotel, then community college, and now is a cultural events center for the community as well as the offices of the city’s Cultural Affairs department." Thomas Center Associates

01/22/2025

Due to the City closures and school closures because of the incoming weather, The Thomas Center will be closed Wednesday, January 22. Please check back on our page for more updates.

01/10/2025

The City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, Cultural Affairs Division is seeking artists for the Thomas Center Gallery summer exhibition, Serenity – Art in Meditation.

The exhibition features original artwork and explores how the creation of art is used to promote mind, body and spirit in various forms of meditation.

The submission deadline is Friday, Feb. 7. See link for more information.

The Historic Thomas Center Galleries is seeking artists for the summer exhibition: Serenity – Art in Meditation. The exhibition features original artwork and explores how the creation of art is used to promote mind, body and spirit in various forms of meditation.

12/19/2024

The City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Division has partnered with the Annesemble Orchestra for the Young Annesemble Orchestra to offer participatory arts to youth. The Young Annesemble Orchestra is housed at our Oakview Studios.

Last night, we were pleased to host the Young Annesemble Orchestra for their winter concert.

Special guest performance by the students of St. Barber’s Leadership Institute Strings Ensemble. Director Zoe Reed, Phyllis Thomas -Principal

Music Director- Annemieke Pronkor-Coron
Co-Director - Angela Terrell

12/09/2024

11/15/2024

We would like to congratulate our long-term partner in creating amazing art in the City of Gainesville and at the Historic Thomas Center Galleries, Mr. Randy Baptista for being a recipient for the National Medal of Arts presented by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

"Randy was honored for "focusing the lens on human nature. Born in Tampa, Florida, to Italian and Cuban immigrants and raised on both sides of the Straits of Florida, Randy Batista is known as the people’s photographer. With the camera as his sixth sense of deep empathy, he captures people’s pain and challenges us to respect their inherent dignity." White House Statement

Randy has photographed many of our award- winning exhibitions such at "Into the Woods and Out of the Woods," which opened in 2022 and exhibited his works in galleries throughout the City of Gainesville and the University of Florida.

Congratulations Randy!

10/26/2024

We had a wonderful time at our GNV Arts Network meeting yesterday!

Thank you Jessica Hurov and Liz Reyes, from Visit Gainesville/Alachua County Tourism office. The information provided on marketing, branding and grant opportunities is invaluable. The arts group had many questions.

Jernie, a local artist and an artist with Shands Arts in Medicine led attendees in a fun music circle.

Our reception was generously provided by Linda Blondheim.

10/02/2024

A very special thank you to The Thomas Center Associates for installing our the new lighting.

Our period rooms are lovely!

09/25/2024

We had a wonderful time hosting UF Museum Co-Director Dr. Porcia Moore and the UF Museum Studies students. We are looking forward to working with the students on future projects.

09/25/2024

09/25/2024

We were thrilled to host Dr. Porcia Moore, Co-Director of UF Museum Studies Department and museum students here at the Thomas Center yesterday. We look forward to working with the Dr. Moore and her students on future projects history projects on the Historic Thomas Center.

09/20/2024

The works of the late Jessie James Aaron now on display in the Doris Bardon Mezzanine Gallery.

The City of Gainesville currently owns a permanent art collection. This fall, we are pleased to showcase the work of folk artist, the late Jessie Aaron from the Jessie Aaron collection.

We invite you to stop by and see this creative work of art of a man whose work was discovered late in life.

Curated by Anne Gilroy and Angela DeCarlis.

Here is a video clip from our 2016 exhibition "Tree of Life."

Tree of Life: The Work of Jesse Aaron on exhibit at the Thomas Center Gallery located in Gainesville's historic Thomas Center features the sculptural artwork...