Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachelle Norton.
Hi Rachelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Founded in 1989, Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts (CRCA) was established by the Chamber of Commerce with arts leaders to enhance the cultural offerings in Rockdale County and has served the Conyers/Rockdale community for over 35 years through a diverse selection of arts programs. These programs, facilitated by dedicated volunteers, artistic professionals, and community member commitment, celebrate our community’s history, and continuously enrich our story. In October 2000, the current facility including offices and a 2500 sq ft black box theater at 910 Center Street in Conyers, Georgia was opened to the public. We operate the black box theater, coordinate public art projects, give platform to local artists, partner with other community organizations to present programs and engage our youth through education and arts programming. CRCA is the only community arts organization serving Conyers and Rockdale County and plays a vital role in fostering creativity, cultural enrichment, and the appreciation of the arts within the local area. The mission of CRCA is to “connect neighbors, cultivate artistic expression, and celebrate our community’s stories through the power of creativity and the arts.” CRCA believes the presence and vitality of arts and cultural activity have the ability to strengthen our community and improve the lives of those who live and work here. We strive to make the arts accessible and meaningful to people of all ages and backgrounds. We help provide community beautification, drive economic development, share cultural diversity, encourage artistic expression, and ultimately, bring joy to our community. Programs and projects span all aspects of the arts andare designed to include all citizens in our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like many community arts organizations, CRCA has had to balance creative ambition with practical realities. When you’re stewarding a space that belongs to the community, innovation has to be thoughtful and sustainable – not just exciting on paper. One of the biggest challenges has been meeting changing audience expectations with limited resources. People today are looking for work that feels current, inclusive, and connected to real conversations, and that often requires taking creative risks. CRCA has approached that carefully, experimenting in ways that honor longtime supporters while opening the door to new voices and ideas. Innovation at CRCA has been more about evolution than overhaul. By supporting local artists, exploring socially engaged programming, and paying close attention to who lives here now and who we want to reach the organization has steadily expanded what a community arts center can be. It’s been a process of listening, learning, and growing alongside the community, and that’s what keeps the work feeling alive.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts?
CRCA has programs that span the entire fine arts spectrum. We offer ArtSmart Camp every June in partnership with The Sketching Pad for children ages 5-12 that includes musical theater and visual arts. The children enjoy a full arts education program daily and at the end of the week present a show in our black box theater for family and friends. Our Imagination Stage program brings shows such as storytelling, puppeteers, musicians and magicians to local community partner venues primarily for preschoolers, but we welcome all ages including seniors and citizens with disabilities. The Public Art Program has been a great success with 6 community murals completed, 11 Beautiful Boxes around the city painted (utility boxes turned from bland silver boxes into works of art), completed a bird blind and “Herald of Herons” exhibit at our local nature center, supported the Blossoms and Bins project at the Georgia International Horse Park and our storefront windows being utilized for advertising and community event window painting. The CRCA Inspiration Theater is a combination of theatrical performances, community outreach and community education to inspire awareness, discourse, and ultimately positive social change. Each performance utilizes multiple community partnerships to share the message and provide community resources. We have produced socially relevant productions in the past highlighting homelessness, LGBTQ+ issues, incarcerated youth/adult issues and family/senior issues and collaborating with various other non-profits in the community that work with these populations. We are pleased to be presenting our inaugural season of Inspiration Theater this year with 6 amazing shows from March 2026 through November 2026. We operate a 2500 sq ft black box theater which is home to the local community theater troupe, The New Depot Players, and a rental facility for theatrical performances, concerts, dance recitals, meetings, networking events, filming and photo shoots, art exhibitions, etc. In partnership with Rockdale County Public Schools, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, and Conyers City Hall, CRCA sponsors a Student Photography Contest every year to coincide with the festival in March. Our Black Heritage Program includes a series of educational performances about significant black Americans from history. We have partnered with local schools and local artists for shows in the past like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes and Malcolm X. CRCA has also worked with the local Black Heritage of Rockdale to present programs about the history of Conyers and Rockdale County. CRCA is always open to innovative arts programming and welcomes all community members to share their program ideas with staff.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was very much a quiet leader in the background. The kind of kid who was happiest with a good book or singing in the school chorus. I gravitated toward spaces where I could contribute and make a difference. I was actively involved in FHA, National Honor Society, Beta Club, and student government. Those experiences gave me an early appreciation for leadership, collaboration, and service.
I grew up in Conyers, where community involvement was simply part of everyday life. My mother made sure my sisters and I understood the importance of giving back, so volunteering with local organizations was something we did regularly. That sense of responsibility and connection to place has stayed with me.
In college, I continued along that path through the Honors Program and as a member of the community service sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma. Looking back, it’s clear that creativity, service, and community have always been central to who I am – they just show up in different ways now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://conyersarts.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crcaarts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conyersarts
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/CRCArts
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CRCArts
