At home in the Lowry-Chesson building in Historic Downtown Elizabeth City, Arts of the Albemarle (AOA) is the regional arts council for Pasquotank and Camden counties. Built in 1895, the structure has been a cornerstone of downtown since its inception, first existing as a flagship department store, theater, and office space. In the early 20th century, it served various purposes, including a Vaudeville theater, a silent cinema, and a speakeasy, even welcoming performances from the likes of Clifton Webb of Cheaper by the Dozen and Thomas Mitchell from Gone with the Wind.  

After being abandoned and eventually condemned in the early 2000s, today, it is a world-class arts facility as the result of the local community’s four-million-dollar preservation campaign. One of few arts establishments in North Carolina that owns its own building and houses both visual and performing arts, AOA encompasses three floors including an art gallery with retail space, a 226-seat theater complete with dressing rooms and a green room, conference, event, and learning space, and the recently-acquired AOA Studio on Poindexter Street, which serves as a flex space for classes, community events, and more.