Arts & Culture
Downtown DuBois
Arts & Culture have a near spot to the hearts of many in the Downtown area. We have local murals, theater, galleries & more!
Winkler Gallery & Art Education Center
In 2003, acclaimed watercolor artist Perry Winkler began a fine artist cooperative in DuBois, PA named The Winkler Gallery of Fine Art. The gallery ran as a cooperative, with artists supporting each other and acting as an unofficial resource for arts information to the community for more than a decade. In 2014, under the leadership of Brian Musser, the gallery was officially recognized as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit and renamed the Winkler Gallery and Art Education Center (WGAEC). They now have approximately 20 professional local artists as part of the cooperative, displaying their work for sale, and volunteering at the gallery. They also hold a growing roster of classes through the Education Center. WGAEC provides artists with an opportunity to demonstrate, exhibit, and market their artwork through a gallery setting.
The Carousel
The WGAEC proudly houses an 1896 Children’s Carousel (first public display in 80 years) and a host of carousel animals collected by Dr. Rice. The Children’s Carousel was built by W.H. Halstead in London, England; the horses were handcrafted at Burton-upon-Trent by C. J. Spooner, the premier wood carver in England. With all the original horses and original parts, it is the world’s most complete and original English children’s carousel. The carousel originally had gondolas, but they were replaced with the advent of automobiles. In the 20’s, the carousel was converted to electric and a new rounding board was added to advertise the new electric model. In 1938 it went into storage in Switzerland where it remained until it was re-discovered in 1996 and brought to America.
Paul G Reitz Theater
The exterior of the Paul G. Reitz Theater in DuBois tells the whole story. This unique theater, located in downtown DuBois at 36 E. Scribner Ave. was built in 1887 as an Evangelical Church. The theater was a church for nearly all of its 133 years. It was one of the few structures that survived the fire of 1888, which destroyed most of the city. It was the home of the Cornerstone Baptist Church until 1992 when Cultural Resources Inc., an organization of civic-minded community leaders, purchased the structure with the intent of converting it into a theater. They host a year-round schedule of events, performances, and educational programs for all ages.
DuBois Area Council on the Arts (DACOTA)
The DuBois Area Council on the Arts, a 501 C (3) community arts group, abbreviated as DACOTA, was founded in the late 1980’s to foster the promotion of community interest in art, music, dance, theater and photography for educational and civic purposes, and to work within the community to effectuate those goals. They host many events and programs like Art in the Windows where local artists display their artwork in downtown storefronts, art exhibits, art walks or fairs and scholarship programs.
Murals & Art Projects
