Mission & History

In early 1996, Angelina College announced plans to build a multi-million dollar fine arts center with a state-of-the-art theatre. The original concept for the Angelina Arts Alliance was born later that year; however, the organization did not begin to take shape until 1999, when a core group of individuals began the planning in earnest. A Board of Directors was appointed in 2000.

Janey Miller was hired as the first Executive Director in December, 2000 and the Arts Alliance’s inaugural season opened in September, 2001 with a sold-out performance featuring Marvin Hamlisch. Season tickets, limited to 800 of the 912 available seats, also sold out quickly.

Rick Schiller, the current Executive Director, joined the Arts Alliance in 2005. By the end of the 2010-11 season, the Angelina Arts Alliance will have presented 71 major events, with artists traveling to this small East Texas community from around the world.

The organization is committed to providing arts education for children. Performances and educational workshops are targeted to area students and presented each season. In addition, the Arts Alliance created Camp CenterStage to help students develop theatre skills. This popular summer theater camp began in 2003 and has expanded each year.

The Arts Alliance’s major partner is Angelina College, a two-year community college with over 5,000 students enrolled. Angelina Arts Alliance offices are housed within the College’s Angelina Center for the Arts, with performances held in the Temple Theater. Students from the Fine Arts program are provided opportunities to work backstage for Arts Alliance events, to participate in workshops conducted by the visiting artists, and to intern for Camp CenterStage.

The Arts Alliance celebrates its tenth season in 2010-11, as it seeks to fulfill its mission of presenting a diverse and comprehensive selection of performing arts events which represents the entire community and serves both children and family audiences.

– Jane D. Ainsworth
   Founding Chairman