Spotlight on George Spence: A Lifetime with the Creative Arts Guild
If you’ve ever found yourself in the communal area between the offices at the Creative Arts Guild when George Spence makes an appearance, you know it’s like the daily return of “Norm” to the bar on the old sitcom, Cheers: Everyone seems genuinely thrilled to see him. And for good reason. Aside from being extraordinarily kind, George and his family have been deeply and inextricably woven into the fabric of the Guild for over fifty years.
George and his wife Rhenda moved to Dalton from Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1970. Drawn by a shared passion for the arts, they immediately recognized the Guild as a place where they could both nurture their creative interests and give back to the community. And give back they did. Over the years, George and Rhenda co-chaired the Fall Festival, enrolled their daughter in ballet, and were steady volunteers and supporters of the Guild’s many monthly and annual events. Later, George served as the Guild’s treasurer, vice president, and president for three terms, and served for a decade on the Board of Trustees. Rhenda also served as president for two terms in the early 1980s.
Perhaps George’s most lasting contribution to the Guild was the construction of the very building in which it is housed. When it became clear that the Old Firehouse on Pentz Street could no longer accommodate the Guild’s growing needs, he personally spearheaded the effort to design and build a new facility. With his professional experience in architectural precast concrete, he stepped in as de facto construction manager and involved himself in all aspects of the project: fundraising, selecting the architect and contractor, and overseeing the entire project through completion. He recalls it as the most challenging period of his tenure but also as a pivotal time that ultimately secured the Guild’s ability to grow and thrive well into the future.
“It was an immense task, but one I felt called to take on,” he says.
George is optimistic that the Guild will continue to grow and thrive into the future.
“It has a track record of fantastic success, and we can confidently project its success forward to meet future challenges,” he says. He emphasizes the importance of community support.
“The Guild is not in business as a profit center. Its business is to cultivate and sustain the arts in our community and region,” he says. "Obviously, covering operating costs is essential, but for the Guild to thrive it will require ongoing financial support from local government, corporate partners, and individual arts supporters.”
As for future programming, he stresses the need for flexibility.
“We do not know what the arts needs in the future will be,” he says, “but I am confident the Guild will evolve with the times and meet new challenges with professional and artistic actions, programs, and solutions.”
George’s story underscores a larger truth: the success of organizations like the Creative Arts Guild depends not just on vision, but on the steadfast support of those who believe in the power of the arts to enrich and transform community life. From his first days as a volunteer, to his years in leadership and his decisive role in shaping the Guild’s physical home, George Spence’s contributions stand as a testament to what one family’s dedication can mean to a community.
George Spence became involved with the Dalton Writer’s Group shortly after its inception, in 1963. He is now an active, contributing member of the newly established Waugh Street Writers’ Group.
-By Dana Shavin, Creative Arts Guild Literary Arts Coordinator