As Culpeper grows, fine arts showing a renewed promise

Shane Mettlen / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: March 31, 2008

The State Theatre was the town's major movie house for decades - opening in 1938 and closing in 1993. Recently a movement to reopen the theatre has swept Culpeper and by 2009 the building should reopen with a sparkling new art deco look.

The State Theatre Foundation's goal is to make the facility the cultural center of the region. When finished the building will feature a 65-foot tower, making it one of the area's most recognizable landmarks, and it should play host to Broadway caliber stage shows.

If all goes according to plan the State could be Culpeper's home for film festivals, symposia, motion picture screenings and educational outreach programs.

Culpeper's art scene certainly isn't limited to the State Theatre. The town is home to the Bluemont Concert Series, which has brought top-notch musical acts to Culpeper and each May and December the Blue Ridge Chorale gives a concert in town.

Arts and entertainment in Culpeper

State Theatre: When it reopens in 2009, the State will give Culpeper one of the premier cultural centers in the region. The building will be home to film festivals, stage shows and educational outreach programs.

Windmore Foundation: The Windmore Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit organization based in Culpeper that has promoted the arts in the region for 20 years. The foundation supports theatre, art education, dance, literature and musical and visual arts.

Bluemont Concert Series: Bluemont brings quality musicians to Culpeper, staging summer concerts on the lawn at the Old County Courthouse or at the Depot on South Commerce Street.

Community Concert Association: The CCA is an all-volunteer group that sponsors at least five concerts a year between September and May in Culpeper and surrounding areas. The CCA strives to mix styles of music that everyone can enjoy.

Blue Ridge Chorale: The community chorus, directed by Virginia Erwin, puts on a concert every spring and winter with a variety of program styles ranging from classical to showtunes.

The Piedmont Brass: Directed by Dan Schoepflin, the Piedmont Brass is a community brass ensemble that performs concerts throughout the year and during community events.

Third Thursday Concerts: Held downtown from May through August, the event brings in name bands. The concert series is put on by Culpeper Renaissance, Inc.

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