For 42 years the Beaufort County Arts Council acted as a catalyst for the arts from a very comfortable, settled space largely provided by the City of Washington. While the organization may have been comfortable, it was never complacent, and that was proven when the arts council made the move from Gladden Street to West Main Street and into the historic Turnage Theater. It was huge leap, to take on that much building and that much responsibility — in many ways, a leap of faith that the greater community of artists and arts supporters would bolster the council in its transition to a more performance-based arts entity.

At the ripe old age of 43, the arts council has made another leap, this one an expansion of how it’s been already been serving not only Beaufort County, but Hyde and Washington counties, as well. Last week, the Beaufort County Arts Council became Arts of the Pamlico, an arts council encompassing the region.

The change was made for a few reasons. When the BCAC moved to the Turnage Theatre, it created some confusion, largely because people were unsure of who was actually running the show. Was it the defunct Turnage Theaters Foundation? Was it the arts council? Were the Turnage and BCAC the same thing or separate?

Another issue past and present BCAC Boards of Directors have been mulling over for quite some time is that the name — Beaufort County Arts Council — put a geographical boundary on an organization that regularly extends itself outside of the county line. The name no longer reflected who the arts council is and what it does.

It was time for a name change, but more important, it was time for the organization to make a splash, as Arts of the Pamlico, owner of the Turnage Theater.

“We’re not your grandmother’s arts council,” Arts of the Pamlico Executive Director Joey Toler said.

No, it’s not. While those who came before should be honored for the work they’ve done to foster the artistic and cultural, this new iteration is more vibrant. It’s a place where arts happen. And it’s a true reflection of the arts community in the area.

At age 43, this arts organization has hit the prime of its life. Now it’s up to the community to keep it healthy and thriving.