Alongside a new and larger storage building, the backside of the arts center has been modified to streamline the unloading process for delivery trucks. A security gate has been added to the railing of the loading ramp through the work of a local craftsman, allowing delivery trucks to simply unload their cargo easier and faster than before.

TIFTON — The Tift Council for the Arts has been hard at work updating and renovating the Syd to ensure it can serve as an even greater arts center.

Thanks to a cultural facilities grant handed down by the Georgia Council for the Arts in fall of last year, the arts council has been able to pursue enhancements to several of the Syd’s facilities and equipment.

Totaling around $88,000, with $58,000 coming from the grant and the remainder from the Tift Council for the Arts and the Downtown Development Authority, the renovations have gone into improving the Syd’s ability to serve as host to artistic exhibits and events for the community.

Bruce Green, executive director for the arts center, said the renovations would assist in making the old building usable for the arts in the modern day while preserving its authenticity and history.

The interior of the arts center has received a new LED low-energy lighting system, which will help provide museum quality lighting to future exhibits. The frame of the system is designed like a track, allowing the individual lights to be repositioned as needed to better illuminate individual art pieces, and is accompanied by lights in each corner of the main hall to backlight particular displays.

Railings are also planned to be installed along the steps leading up to the stage area in the main hall, but Green reported that they were still in production.

In the back room of the arts center, cabinets have been installed for use in storing away media equipment and creating more storage space for catering and the events held at the center, such as the annual gala.

The outside of the old church building has also received some touch-ups, the most noticeable being a new awning displaying the Syd’s name over the front door and a larger storage building behind the arts center. Green explained that the awning would help shield the door from rain and prevent water damage, while the new storage would phase out their old storage building.

Alongside this, a small stairway has been added to the patio on the side of the building, granting access to the yard area, high-amperage exterior outlets have been installed at the back and side of the building for use in outdoor events, and lightning rods have been set up at various points along the arts center roof.

The Syd’s location at the peak of a hill in what was already a place of high elevation for the area put it at risk for lightning strikes, Green stated, but the newly installed lightning rods would help prevent any damage from being done to the building.

Green expressed immense appreciation to the Georgia Council for the Arts for giving them the grant funding, feeling indebted to them for the helping hand. He reported that the Tift Council for the Arts was already looking into the possibilities of another facilities grant, but plans would have to wait until it was available next year.