McDowell Arts Center & Fullwood Theater Dedication Ceremony Saturday |

A dedication ceremony will be held for the McDowell Arts Center, located adjacent to the Matthews Community Center, at 10 a.m., on December 1.

The public is then invited to tour the facility.

Artists with the Matthews Artist Guild will have over 70 pieces of art for you to view and you will be able to meet the artists in person.

KidzArt will have art activities for children to enjoy such as drawing, painting and more.

The former Agriculture Building is located in front of the Matthews Community Center and will be utilized for additional programs and classes offered by the Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department.

Renovations to the building included up fitting the rooms on the first and second floors, the addition of restrooms and an elevator. The Agriculture Building was built in the 1920s as an extension of the old Matthews High School. In 2008 the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System transferred the building to the Town. 

“We are very excited to add another component to our Community Arts District. With Stumptown Park and the Matthews Community Center already in place and heavily used, the addition of the McDowell Arts Center gives our citizens more space to meet their creative needs. This building will help us provide the additional space we need for our cultural arts programming,” said Matthews Mayor Jim Taylor.

The Town Board will also dedicate the theater in the Matthews Community Center as Fullwood Theater in memory of Mr. John Miles Fullwood, who became the community's first postmaster on July 12, 1825.  Fullwood operated the post office and store out of his home, near the present-day intersection Country Place Drive and Trade Street. Before the Town of Matthews was incorporated, the area was called Fullwood Station.