In Hillsboro, the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, known simply as the Walters, has hit a milestone celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The Walters, situated cozily among mom-and-pop shops and a sprinkling of non-profits and a snazzy professional theatre company, has become a linchpin in the local art world and according to a recent report by the Cultural Arts District, the quantity and caliber of the offerings at this venue can stand toe-to-toe with the art centers in big-league cities.
Nancy Nye, Hillsboro's senior honcho for Arts, Culture, & Special Events, sang praises to the Walters in an interview, saying, "The Walters is not just a classroom or a music venue or a gallery or a rental space, it’s Hillsboro’s cultural heartbeat," and that's saying something for a town where tossing a stone can land you in a pumpkin patch.
This artsy hub, originally a church, is something of a relic itself with wooden arches that could belong in an old Western movie and walls that have the vibe of a medieval castle. With the Walters chugging along for two decades, it's clear that the public-private handshake worked out pretty sweetly for Hillsboro, giving it an edge in the national rankings for cultural hotspots.
