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The gymnasium at the Valley Sportsplex Community Center was filled with aspiring, new-found and lifelong artists on Saturday, all displaying artwork for the 24th annual Fall Into the Holidays Valley art show.

Hosted each year by the Valley Art Council, the event is not just an opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work. It’s also a space for old and new friends in the art community to congregate, support and collaborate with one another.

“Everyone has a place. If you create, you have the right,” Britt said. “But everyone has the right to have their work seen and appreciated and get feedback.”

Familiar faces gathered around each other’s booths to talk shop and peruse new pieces.

From Valley to Five Points to Lanett, all areas of the county were represented in the show. Many different art styles and mediums were also on display. Fine artists displayed their work on one side of the gym while crafters set up shop on the other.

Adrian Alsobrook, an abstract artist born and raised in Five Points, is a longtime member of the Valley Art Council. Britt said he has been a staple in the greater Valley area art community for many years.

“He is a very well known artist. In fact, he sells a lot of his work to interior designers and decorators,” Britt said.

He has showcased in the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn and has a following across the southeast.

“But he was always there from the very beginning,” Britt said, remembering the many years she has worked with him. “He’s a great guy.”

“From 25 years ago, part of our mission statement was to seek out the unknown artist in our community and bring them forward and with encouragement and opportunities to show their work,” said Suzie Britt, president of the Valley Arts Council. “And over these 25 years, we have discovered so many people of all ages and even elderly people that they found out they were creating something.”

Britt has served as the president of the Valley Art Council since its inception nearly 25 years ago, and according to her, the “feather in its cap” has always been finding local creators and helping them realize their passion project is actually an artistic expression.

Many of the show’s most loyal exhibitors were people who never considered themselves artists.

“We have accomplished that, and are still accomplishing that by, you know, being able to discover. [We’re] constantly discovering new people,” Britt said.

One new face at the show belonged to Wayne Clark, a longtime reporter for the Valley Times-News. He showcased a lot of photography and historical information from around the greater Valley area and West Point dam.

The fall art show also gives artists time to network, mingle and be introduced to new ideas and mediums.

“We learn from one another,” Britt said.

“We’ve got a lot of new people and our older ones are gone, but you know, it’s changing all the time. You have to change to survive,” Britt said.

A few years ago, the Valley Art Council hosted a memorial art show honoring over 60 late artists, many of whom had participated in former art shows and some of whom had never showcased their art before.

“It was just this whole gym was filled, and it was over 60 artists from over 100 years ago to present day,” Britt said.

Over the years, the council has seen unwavering support from the community as well as the city of Valley, which sponsors the council.

“We’ve always had a lot of support from the community as well as the city, and that goes for our mayor and council. City council, they have always supported us immensely,” Britt said. “We wouldn’t exist without them.”

Britt said she hopes more artists in the community will get involved in the Valley Arts Council Facebook page, where they can connect, comment and post their work. Many artists even sell their work on the page.