About Darlington
History & Mission Statement
Darlington Arts Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to serve the cultural needs of a diverse community by providing a school and outreach programs for the visual and performing arts. The Center promotes the enjoyment and understanding of the arts through outreach programs, private instruction, classes, performances, and special events for all ages.
The Center is inclusive in its offerings. By embracing the visual and performing arts, Darlington makes it possible to enroll more than one family member at the same time and place for classes or lessons in music, art, dance, or drama.
The Darlington Arts Center was founded and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1978 by Diana Sophocles Hemmenway based on a unique vision: to include all four arts disciplines - music, visual arts, dance and drama - in one facility with an emphasis on multi-disciplinary programming. In fact, Darlington was the first community arts center in the state of Pennsylvania to offer the four arts under one roof. For 30 years, the programming possibilities and opportunities have been extensive and innovative. Twenty years ago, Darlington pioneered the concept of a preschool arts program for 3-5 year olds which includes classes in all four arts taught by four teaching arts specialists. The summer arts camp soon followed the same model for children ages 5 - 12 offered 5 days a week throughout the summer.
Darlington began in an historic farmhouse which sits on a William Penn land grant on old Baltimore Pike in Wawa, PA. With the vision and mission firmly set, Diana started small with 5 music teachers and 35 students. Because her training was in music, having completed degrees from Oberlin College and Boston University before returning to Delaware County, Darlington began with music soon adding the 3 other arts to compliment and enhance the curriculum.
In 1996 with a student enrollment of 500, Diana and the Board of Directors decided it was time to move. The farmhouse had become inadequate, limiting programming growth and the location had become hazardous. After looking at over 20 old properties with the Board President William K. Davis, the Board decided, with advice from Arts Space Collaborative, to build a new arts Center that would accommodate all the needs of the organization. Building was made possible through the generosity of the Gilman Development Company which donated to Darlington in 1997 five beautiful acres of land in Concord Township. With conditional use approval from the Township to build on open space, Darlington began the Campaign for Darlington: Working in Concert. In June of 2002 Darlington opened its doors in its new state of the art facility.
In 2009, after 30 years, Diana Sophocles Hemmenway retired and turned the reins over to Angela Scully.
p. 610-358-3632 | info@darlingtonarts.org