The Syd has been used not only for arts purposes but also for things such as civic events and weddings. Additionally, the building, now operated by the Council for the Arts, can hold multiple events and showcases at the same time.
“ Some of the stained glass was damaged,” Green said.“ The pigeons were flying in and out of it. You can’ t believe that, but that’ s the condition that it was in.”
The roof was also damaged, and termites had begun to eat away at the wooden interior.
That’ s when Syd Blackmarr came up with a plan to restore the building.
“ Syd Blackmarr was the woman that kind of took it upon herself and convinced the arts council and then went around talking to civic clubs and various organizations,” Green said.“ There was a serious fundraising effort to acquire enough money and to go for grants to begin to stabilize the building and eventually put it back into service.”
Blackmarr— who also created the Arts Experiment Station, now known as the Arts Connection, at ABAC— was an advocate for the arts in Tifton throughout her life. She’ d go on to have a long career serving within the community and on the Tifton Council for the Arts before passing in 2023.
Blackmarr’ s biggest contribution though came by advocating for the restoration of the old Methodist church. In 1990, five years after the county government bought the building, $ 500,000 in funds was raised to help renovate it.
The renovation was completed by none other than Roy Rankin, a great-grandson of Henry and Bessie Tift. Rankin oversaw the restoration effort, drawing up plans to modernize the building.
In April 1997, the building was officially reopened as the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage. It served as a cultural hub for the city of Tifton.
Over the years, the building exchanged hands from the county government to the Tifton Downtown Development Authority. Still, the same vision was had throughout.
In April 2022, the 25-year anniversary of the building reopening, the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage was renamed the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center in honor of Blackmarr’ s service to the arts scene in Tifton.
24 TiftonScene | JANUARY 2026