2025 Ribbon Cutting - Bower Center for the Arts

Bower Center for the Arts is delighted to announce the completion of a very special project: the Lucille Hoback Boggess Outdoor Learning Center and Community Gathering Space. This beautiful, 440-square-foot deck now sits just outside the Center, offering a new place for creativity, education, reflection, and connection.

The idea was sparked by Bower Center Executive Director Susan Martin, who envisioned an outdoor environment that could expand how the community engages with the arts. After working with Grant Writer, Charlotte Farley, to secure grants from Norfolk Southern and the Weyerhaeuser Foundation, board member Des Black took the lead, designing and overseeing construction with the help of more than 17 volunteers—and a few generous passersby who saw the work and stepped in to lend a hand. Over the course of 28 working days and 246 total hours, the team brought this idea to life—on time, under budget, and full of community spirit.

This deck is more than a physical structure; it is an extension of Bower Center’s mission. Outdoor learning experiences open new doors for creativity. Whether drawing inspiration from nature, experimenting with new materials, or simply gathering to share ideas, this space offers a place to reconnect with the world and one another. It will serve as a venue for Bower Center’s heARTworks programs, summer camps, youth and adult art classes, and as a welcoming space for community events, casual meetups, and creative exploration. It will also house the new location of the Free Little Art Gallery and Library, providing a perfect perch for spontaneous creativity.

This space is proudly named in honor of Lucille Hoback Boggess, a deeply respected Bedford County leader, philanthropist, and advocate. Beginning her service to Bedford in 1948, Lucille made history in 1967 as the first woman elected to office in Bedford County, becoming Commissioner of the Revenue and later serving as the County’s first woman elected to the Board of Supervisors. Known for her wisdom, humility, and leadership, Lucille also played a pivotal role in bringing the National D-Day Memorial to Bedford, believing wholeheartedly that the community’s sacrifices should be forever remembered. Her long and accomplished life has been rooted in service and a fierce love for Bedford, especially in championing women and opening doors for future generations.

Thanks to her family’s generous sponsorship, Lucille’s name now graces this new space—a living, breathing testament to her enduring impact. As her son John Boggess shared, Lucille is honored to lend her name to a place dedicated to learning, art, and community—and she is quite happy to now have “a perfect perch to keep an eye on the Courthouse.”

The official Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 28 at 11 AM. This ceremony will be facilitated by the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, Central Virginia Business Coalition, and Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance—Bower Center of the Arts is a proud member of all three business organizations. The celebration will include light refreshments, opportunities to explore the new space, meet some of the volunteers, and hear from those who made it possible. Although Lucille will not be present due to mobility issues, her family will attend on her behalf.

This deck was built with purpose, passion, and a whole lot of heart. Bower Center looks forward to the memories and moments it will hold in the years to come. Those interested in supporting the continuation and expansion of this project—or the overall operations of Bower Center for the Arts—are invited to contribute in person or online.

About Bower Center for the Arts

Bower Center for the Arts is an innovative regional Central Virginia Arts and Cultural Center, promoting the unique cultural narrative of the region and its creative economy by developing and offering arts, cultural and community programs. They are the cultural center of visual and performing arts, education, community engagement and personal enrichment, promoting inclusivity and diversity and contribute to a high quality of life for the community. LEARN MORE.