Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center

HCH outside

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center is a public art and history gallery, which showcases numerous traveling exhibitions from around the world. It is also the home to Black Heritage Gallery and Gallery by the Lake. Both galleries give spotlight to dozens of regional and local artists. The Center features three floors of gallery space, a clock tower, and a landscaped brick plaza. Traveling exhibitions by well-known artists Pablo Picasso, Norman Rockwell, and Tasha Tudor have visited the Center, as well as historic exhibits including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition and The Pelican State Goes to War (by the National WWII Museum). Visitors from across the country are surprised to find such high-caliber exhibitions in the Lake Area.  

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to all exhibitions is free to the public. Follow us on Facebook or sign up for our newsletter to stay connected and learn about our current exhibits. For more information, please call (337) 491-9147.

Upcoming Exhibits

2024 HCH Calendar


 
 

Central School Arts & Humanities Center

Central School june 2023 ribbon cutting

Central School Arts & Humanities Center was designed and built by noted New Orleans architects Favrot & Livaudais in 1912 and is located at 809 Kirby Street in Lake Charles in the heart of the Charpentier Historic District. It originally functioned as an elementary school and was repurposed as an arts and humanities center in 1995. Its classrooms now serve as studios, offices, and performance spaces for dozens of cultural organizations and individual artists.

Current tenants include the Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA, the Lake Charles Symphony, the Literacy Council of SWLA, Lake Charles Community Band, Bayouland Ballroom, and Lake Charles Little Theatre along with numerous other visual artists, dance teachers, non-profits and music teachers. The school's historic auditorium is currently undergoing renovations following Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020.  Auditorium renovations are expected to be  complete in the fall of 2024.

For more information on Central School Arts & Humanities Center, including room rental information and rates, contact the Arts and Humanities Council at 337-439-2787 or visit www.artscouncilswla.org.

Farmers Market Veggies
 
The Charleston Farmer's Market is held every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Bilbo Street behind the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center.  In the event of rain, the market will be moved into the 1st floor of the building. 

The market highlights Louisiana-made items, including grains such as brown jasmine rice and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats, gumbo, canned goods, baked goods, honey, herbs, plants, and homemade arts and crafts. All vendors must supply their own tents and tables. 
 

The Charlestown Farmer's Market provides a great outlet for local farmers to sell their produce, as well as increases awareness of downtown businesses and events. For more information about the market, please download this flyer. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please contact Carolyn Smith at (337) 309-1389 or email her at smithcarolyn@suddenlink.net.

Downtown at Sundown

Downtown at Sundown
Downtown at Sundown is Lake Charles' own version of a summer block party. Held during the early summer months each year at the 1000 block of Ryan Street, people gather to have a great summer evening dancing to some of the hottest bands from around the state, eat wonderful selections from local food trucks and booths, and peruse through a promenade of artists displaying their crafts. The event is attended by more than 2,500 people annually. For more information, please visit Downtown at Sundown.

Red, White, Blue and You
Red, White, Blue and You is the City of Lake Charles’ annual 4th of July celebration. It starts off with a concert and a salute to armed services at the Arcade Amphitheatre. The night ends with an epic fireworks extravaganza over the lake. Come out to enjoy the festivities and celebrate America's Independence Day! For more information, email artsandculture@cityoflc.us 

Arts & Humanities Council's Spring Art Walk
Celebrate our local arts with a stroll through Downtown Lake Charles.  AHC's Spring Art Walk boasts more than 60 local arts and crafts vendors for an afternoon of shopping, local eats, and live entertainment. Spring Art Walk also hosts the annual "Art Wars" that allows youth and adult groups to compete in a live painting contest. For more information, please visit Spring Art Walk.

Arts & Humanities Council's Gallery Promenade
This popular art event is held at downtown galleries, studios, businesses, and venues and presented by the Arts &  Humanities Council of SWLA.  Downtown businesses are paired with local artists showing their work, and may offer live music, extended hours, food and drink specials.  Participating City venues include Central School Arts & Humanities Center and Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center. For more information, please visit Gallery Promenade.

Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival
Held in Downtown Lake Charles annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, this event is a great way to kick off the Christmas season. It begins with reindeer games, Santa's workshop, local food trucks, and live performances at the Civic Center. The festival ends with a Christmas concert at the Arcade Amphitheatre and a spectacular fireworks display over Lake Charles! For more information, email artsandculture@cityoflc.us