Huntingdon Town Council Hears Request from Friends of The Dixie

HUNTINGDON (November 25) — Before discussing new business at Tuesday night’s town council meeting, the Huntingdon council members listened as Krista Martin, president of the Friends of The Dixie, spoke about the organization’s comprehensive involvement at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center (DPAC) since April 2025.

Martin, also a doctor at Huntingdon’s Southern Chiropractic and Acupuncture, said the Friends of The Dixie is an organization made up of business owners of past and present, people who manage large teams, former school directors and a past state commissioner — all of whom volunteer many hours to help The Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center (DPAC) grow.

The organization assumed operational control of DPAC in April 2025. Since then, the organization’s volunteers have researched and utilized ways to build DPAC’s concert lineup from the ground up, without using taxpayer dollars.

“We’re finally seeing what the future of The Dixie can look like,” Martin said. “Just this past week, we sold out a show in a few hours bringing a younger crowd, many of whom have never been to The Dixie before. And that’s our goal. The new audience is to help sustain the future.”

But bringing in new performers isn’t cheap, nor is maintaining and improving the venue, according to Martin.

“When you’re the one writing the checks, you can quickly learn how many unknown expenses each show has,” said Martin.

Martin cited a lighting director, an extra stagehand, an artist, hospitality, catering, travel, backline and rental fees as costs “that a city does not need to bear.” She said the organization also paid for internet and phone bills, all stage hands, lighting and monitoring engineers, house managers, artists, hospitality office and janitorial supplies, marketing and advertising and extra helpers for city employees when they needed it.

“We weren’t asked to pay these,” said Martin, “but we voted to do so to show our commitment to alleviating the financial burden of the city. We also paid nearly $15,000 for the Heritage Day Festival artists at no cost to the town and no return on investment to us.”

The Friends of the Dixie is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is therefore eligible for grants, but many grants require documentation — including a memorandum of understanding and a lease agreement.

Because the nonprofit does not own the DPAC building or have formal operating control, Martin requested a formal memorandum of understanding, a written confirmation clarifying the organization’s relationship with the town of Huntingdon.

“We’re not asking for relief or responsibility, just the written clarity that the city supports the role that we’ve been fulfilling and that the Friends of The Dixie can continue using the space for programming, operations and education,” said Martin. “This also tells the citizens clearly that their tax dollars are not funding The Dixie and they can support the arts through a nonprofit instead of burdening the city.”

Martin said The Friends of The Dixie presented the council with a memorandum of understanding in August and it had since been revised by both parties. She asked that councilmembers sit down with the organization and address leftover concerns, finalize the documents and move forward with clear responsibilities.

Huntingdon Town Council meets for the last time in 2025 on Tuesday, December 16.