PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -What is now the Visual Arts Center was once Panama City’s first city hall, then a police station, and then courthouse. Now, the iconic Panama City landmark is turning 100.
Saturday evening, the Bay Arts Alliance celebrated the building’s monumental birthday with a Centennial Garden Party.
Among the floral prints worn by eventgoers, there was food, live performances, and lots of art to enjoy
The event is fundraising for the Center of the Arts to allow use of the facility to remain free to the public.
“The city of Panama City trusts Bay Arts Alliance to manage this building, and we take it very seriously. We want to put as much art through this building as we can, and share it with the community,” said Jayson Kretzer, the executive director of Bay Arts Alliance. “When people come out and actually attend these kinds of events it lets us know that we’re doing something right, the arts are alive and well in Panama City.”
The Center for the Arts is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or as late as 7 p.m. on Fridays.
To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.
Copyright 2025 WJHG. All rights reserved.