Look where you will, and you won’t find many facilities with a history as long and varied as the one we now know as the Louisa Arts Center.

First constructed in 1905, the building originally housed the local high school. A fire in 1924 destroyed much of the structure, prompting a major rebuild. In 1940, the building was converted into an elementary school, and in 1957, an annex was added, containing additional classrooms and a cafeteria. It continued serving in that capacity until its closure in 1987. The building then sat vacant until 2002, when it and four other local properties were purchased by the Town of Louisa.

In 2004, the facility was renamed the Louisa Town Hall and Louisa Arts Center, and that same year, the Louisa Downtown Development Corporation was formed. Its mission: to enhance Louisa’s capacity for offering arts and cultural activities, raise funds for the restoration of the theater and classrooms, and build an art gallery.

Today, the complex houses the Louisa Arts Center theater, art gallery, and box office on the ground floor. Louisa Town Hall offices occupy the next floor, while art classrooms and shared office spaces are located on the top floor.

The Louisa Arts Center, a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, operates with a paid staff of eight—seven part-time employees and Karen Welch, who has served as the full-time Executive Director since 2019. A volunteer board supports the organization and is actively involved in decisions related to the center’s strategic plan and future development. The center is financially self-sufficient, operating on a mix of donations, ticket sales, facility rentals, grants, and miscellaneous income.

When asked about the center’s vision, Welch told The Breeze: “We operate on a three-tiered strategic plan: Extension—to bring our offerings to as many people as possible; Breadth—to widen the scope of what we offer; and Affordability—to keep our programs accessible to all.”

A popular seasonal offering is Music and Wine at Sundown, a summer program that features free monthly performances by local musicians on the center’s rear patio. Beverages are available for purchase, and attendees are welcome to bring their own food—and their own seating for added comfort.
A few years ago, the center adopted the motto: “Brighten Your Life!” Judging by the depth and diversity of its programming and its growing impact on the community, it does just that.

Barry Schaeffer

Barry grew up and completed his schooling in southern California, moving to Virginia in 1980.

As a communicator, Barry was a regular columnist for CMSWire, as well as Intranet Development and Newspapers and Technology Magazines, and was a reporter for his local newspaper, The Central Virginian.  He was also one of four consultant/authors for the landmark congressional study “Informing the Nation” (1987.) 

As a customer service provider: while finishing college, he spent four years in the retail beverage industry, dealing directly with customers.

As a corporate manager, he was a successful manager with several firms, including:

• At Pacific Telephone, he managed groups of up to 150 people and was rated Outstanding among managers in Southern California.
• For Arcata Data Management, he took over a 100-person division known for significant monthly losses and late delivery penalties, taking it to profitability in less than six months.
• For Planning Research Corporation, he managed a staff of 100 contractor personnel in the computer center for the White House (EOPCC), taking the Award Fee contract from zero award to maximum in six months.

As a project manager, Barry successfully led and completed major projects.

• For the private sector: Pratt & Whitney Canada, Boeing Helicopter, Sikorsky Aviation, Ford Motor Company (through Tweddle Group,) World Book Encyclopedia, The Bureau of National Affairs.

• For the Federal government: Congressional Research Service (CRS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U. S. Office Management and Budget (OMB), Executive Office of the President (White House), Department of Defense (Army National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), Air Force Material Command, Naval Sea Systems Command.)

• For State Governments: Administrative Code systems for Texas and Oklahoma.

As an entrepreneur, he co-founded and led two successful firms including X.Systems, (founded in 1993 and acquired by XyEnterprise in 2009.) 

He is a graduate of California State University/Los Angeles with a BA in psychology, and of the rigorous Bell System Management Achievement Program.