Panama City Center for the Arts

The Panama City Center for the Arts is downtown Panama City’s public art center, housed in a historic building that was originally the city’s first city hall. Formerly known as the Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, it is owned by the City of Panama City and has been managed since 2015 by Bay Arts Alliance, the county’s nonprofit arts agency.

Visit at 19 E 4th St, Panama City, FL 32401; call 850-640-3670 or go to pccenterforthearts.com. Three galleries host more than 30 exhibitions a year, covering fine art, sculpture, jewelry and ceramics, and the shows come with coordinating programs that reach into writing, music and film.

Classes in painting, pottery and drawing are offered for artists of all ages and skill levels, so it is a useful stop for locals looking to pick up a new medium as well as for visitors. There is a gift shop, and the main gallery can be rented for private events. The center also promotes Fright Nights, a ticketed seasonal event with details at frightnightspanamacity.com. Bay Arts Alliance/Center for the Arts is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm, with Friday hours extended to 7pm; the center is closed Sunday and Monday. Admission to the exhibitions is free, which makes it an easy add-on to a walk along Harrison Avenue and the downtown waterfront.