Parkersburg Art Center

The Parkersburg Art Center is located at the corner of Eight and Market Streets, in downtown Parkersburg, in a building that was formerly a Montgomery Wards Store. The Art Center (PAC) was chartered in 1938, making it West Virginia’s oldest cultural agency in continuous operation.

Five gallery spaces are available to display works of artists and crafters from this region and beyond. Artists also offer their work for sale in our Gift Shop.

Integral to the Art Center is the education department. They offer year-round art training for students of all ages in a wide variety of disciplines from guitar to watercolor painting to beer brewing.

Among the most consistently popular classes are those offered in the PAC’s Clay Studio. This three-room facility offers experiential learning at its best and is also the home of an active group of Studio Members who use our space as their studio. This is a co-operative venture that has grown over the years.

In addition to the schedule of public programs, the PAC houses the ArtStart Preschool which was established in 2006. This program is a school-year program focused on nurturing the development of young children in a developmentally appropriate and creative way.

The PAC is also an events venue for weddings, receptions, showers, trade-shows and lectures.