History

The Bower Center for the Arts, under the umbrella of the Wharton Memorial Foundation, is a non-profit art center nestled in the heart of Bedford, Virginia at the corner of Bridge Street and Bedford Avenue. The Bower Center is named for the mother and father of Bedford native, Dr. John Bower, who’s generous donation allowed for the purchase of the building in 2005. Dr. Bower’s mother Minnie was an avid gardener and his father, Mitchell, was a local businessman, former mayor and tenor in the Bedford Presbyterian Church Choir. The Bower Center has been operating as an arts center since 2006, initially as Bedford Academy for the Arts and following a merger in June 2008 with The Wharton Memorial Foundation, as Bower Center for the Arts.

The Wharton Memorial Foundation as the Bower Center for the Arts exists in part, according to the by-laws, “to promote the cultural arts” in the Bedford area. Since 2006 the Bower Center has worked toward providing a cultural arts center in Bedford and will continue to build upon that foundation to provide an atmosphere of learning and personal growth through entertainment and education in the Visual and Performing Arts.