LAKE WALES ARTS CENTER

By  Mike Miller June 12, 2025

The Lake Wales Arts Center is a cultural hub in Lake Wales, Florida. Housed in a historic Spanish Mission-style building, it offers art exhibits, concerts, and classes.

The Lake Wales Arts Council, founded by five locals in 1972, operates it. Visitors can explore the Michael Crews Fine Arts Gallery or attend performances in Updike Hall.

Lake Wales Arts Center

The center hosts community events like the Lake Wales Arts Festival. It promotes creativity through workshops for all ages.

Built in 1927, the building was originally Holy Spirit Catholic Church. It served the congregation for 60 years.

By the 1980s, the church congregation outgrew the space. The Lake Wales Arts Council acquired it in 1988. A State Historic Preservation grant funded its restoration.

The council adapted it for visual and performing arts. The building joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.  

The center is at 1099 State Road 60 E, Lake Wales, Florida 33853. From US 27, take SR 60 east; it’s at the corner of 11th Street.

It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM, and by appointment on Monday and Sunday. It’s closed on major holidays.

Call 863-676-8426 to schedule tours or check event schedules. Free parking is available behind the building.

The annual Arts Festival occurs in February, so expect crowds. Accessibility ramps are provided. Check the website for workshop registration.

• The building’s bell tower still has the original 1927 church bell.  

• The Michael Crews Gallery rotates exhibits every six to eight weeks.  

• The center’s Updike Hall has a Steinway piano for concerts.  

• The Arts Council started with a $500 budget in 1972.  

• The building’s stucco exterior mimics 17th-century Spanish missions.  

• Local students display art annually in a youth exhibit.  

• The center hosts a free summer art camp for kids.  

• The restoration kept original stained-glass windows from the church.

LAKE WALES ARTS COUNCIL WEBSITE