Lancaster Cultural Arts Center

Lancaster Cultural Arts Center The Lancaster Cultural Arts Center hosts cultural and public events. The walls are of handmade brick. The walls are stuccoed and scored to resemble stone.

Owned and operated by the Lancaster Society for historical preservation, the center opened on Nov. 5, 2020 (Old Presbyterian Church) Lancaster Presbyterian Church has played an integral part in this community’s history since the mid-1800s. Completed ca. 1862, the present church is thought to have been the first brick church in Lancaster County. Basilican in plan, the church features a gallery alon

g the sides and back of the sanctuary and culminates in an arched pulpit apse. Interesting details include hood moldings over the arches, cornice brackets with pendants under the gallery, and round wooden columns supporting the gallery. The Lancasterville Presbyterian Church was organized in 1835, and in 1860 the congregation decided to erect a new church (the present structure) on the site of the original one. The contract was given to Sidney Retting of Charlotte, North Carolina, and the church was completed by January 1862. Designed in the Early Gothic Revival style, the church was dedicated on March 29, 1862. A cemetery dating from the 1830s is located to the left and rear of the church, and many of its graves are of Lancaster’s leading citizens. In 1926, the congregation moved to a new church on Main Street in Lancaster. The old structure was then used by another church and later by the Masons. In 1962 it was purchased by Dr. Benjamin F. Emanuel under whose direction it became the Carolina Museum. Unoccupied since 1972, the church was purchased in 1976 by the Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation, Inc. Listed in the National Register December 16, 1977. The building is now the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center. The ribbon cutting and re-opening of the completed center took place on Nov. 5, 2020. For information on becoming a member of the Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation, please visit our website at www.lcshp.org

07/06/2025

Rehearsing for today's performance
Ethan Uslan and son Henry.
3pm at 307 W.Gay street.

06/14/2025

LCSHP's Cultural Arts Center is now the home of two fabulous murals by artist Jeff Lingle

The Mural fundraising reception at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center. June 12, 25*Pictures by Kenneth Steward.
06/13/2025

The Mural fundraising reception at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center. June 12, 25
*Pictures by Kenneth Steward.

On Thursday, June 12 at 5:30 pm, the Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation is hosting a fundraiser recept...
06/04/2025

On Thursday, June 12 at 5:30 pm, the Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation is hosting a fundraiser reception at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center to celebrate the completion of the striking Civil War Mural on the rear balcony wall of the performance hall.

The Civil War Mural is the second mural painted by artist Jeff Lingle over the last year—the first being the beautiful Stairway of Dreams painting within the stage proscenium arch. The stage mural greatly enhances enjoyment of musical concerts at the CAC, while the balcony mural documents, in dreamlike manner, the major historical event that took place in the structure in February 1865: occupation of the then-Presbyterian Church by Union troops, who used the sanctuary to stable their horses.

During the reception, there will be short addresses by artist Jeff Lingle on the creation of the mural and historian Miles Gardner on events in Lancaster County during its Civil War occupation.

Afternoon hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served, with opportunities to chat with the speakers. This will be a moment to celebrate not just the new art works but also the success of the Cultural Arts Center as a vibrant performing arts organization that is playing a major role in the revitalization of historic downtown Lancaster.

We still have about $15,000 to raise to complete the funding of the second mural, and the donation to the LCSHP needed to join the reception is accordingly $250 per person. Tickets can be purchased in advance at lcshp.org on the home page EVENTS tab. Checks can also be given at the door on the day of the reception, but we do request an rsvp in advance to [email protected] for event planning purposes. If you have already contributed at least $250 towards the second mural, consider yourself paid-up!

The CAC is located at 307 West Gay St. in Lancaster, and free onsite and street parking are available. We hope to see you at this celebration on June 12!

The Board of the Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation.

06/02/2025

Texas native Don Crawford will speak at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center at noon, Wednesday, June 4 on one of Lancaster’s most prominent founding families, the Crawfords. This Scottish pioneer family was among the earliest settlers of Lancaster County and produced Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, physicians, and businessman. Historic Kilburnie was among the homes they built, and the family played a major early role in the County’s development. Don Crawford’s talk is based on extensive genealogical research and family oral history. He says, “Family history revealed compelling stories of love, honor, courage, sacrifices, service and loyalties, and this inspired me to write extensively about family contributions to historical events.”

Come and learn more about Lancaster’s history through the eyes and ears of a descendant of a founding family.

Conversations at the CAC are free, and no reservations are necessary. The lecture will begin at noon and conclude by 1 pm. Free onsite and street parking are available.

Charlotte’s Chamber Music for All ensemble will perform two major string quartets on Sunday, June 1, at 3:00 p.m. at the...
05/28/2025

Charlotte’s Chamber Music for All ensemble will perform two major string quartets on Sunday, June 1, at 3:00 p.m. at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center. The CM4A ensemble, led by Charlotte Concertmaster Calin Lupanu, will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet no. 8 op. 110 in C Minor and Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet op. 59 no. 2 “Razumovsky.”

Lupanu and his wife violinist Monica Boboc won top honors in three different countries performing these works: at the London International Quartet Competition, the Shostakovich Quartet Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, and at the Fischoff Competition in South Bend, Indiana. Lupanu says the works are challenging and stretch performers’ skills to the limit—but that audiences are always moved by them.

The CAC is located at 307 West Gay St. in historic downtown Lancaster, SC. Tickets at the door will be $25. Free onsite and street parking are available. Come and enjoy this start-of-summer concert!

John Craig

05/19/2025

We are always thrilled to play for the wonderfully warm and enthusiastic audiences at CAC. The Cultural Arts Center is a real treasure for the community, and such a lovely place to make music. & #82…

On Saturday, May 24 at 6:30 pm, the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players will perform Vivaldi's famous conce...
05/19/2025

On Saturday, May 24 at 6:30 pm, the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players will perform Vivaldi's famous concerto for 2 violins, plus "Summer" from Vivaldi's The 4 Seasons. The program at the Lancaster Cultural Arts Center will also include a Corelli Concerto Grosso and seldom performed (but well worth hearing) works by Georg Muffat and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. Schmelzer was the leading Austrian composer of his generation, and Muffat was a cosmopolitan composer and organist who performed throughout Europe. With 4 violins, viola, theobo, and harpsichord players (8 in total), this will be a great concert for Baroque music lovers--indeed, any music lover.

The Lancaster Cultural Arts Center is located at 307 W. Gay St., Lancaster. While online tickets are $20 plus an admin fee, they will be $25 at the door. Visit lcshp.org to purchase online tickets. If you encounter a problem, call 803-287-6826. Onsite and street parking at the CAC are free.

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Lancaster, SC

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