Mack Gibson stepped down as board chairman of the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center Foundation Thursday, but he’s not going away.

“If anyone thinks I’m going away, I’m sorry because I’m not going anywhere,” Gibson said, laughing.

On a serious note, Gibson said that he’s too passionate about the arts, about the Johnson Center for the Arts, not to be a part of it.

“I can’t step away from something I love so dearly. I’m just stepping down so others can step up.”

Gibson has served as chairman of the board of the cultural arts center for 14 years. He was the first and is the only board chairman since the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center was organized.

“I have absolutely loved every year that I have worked with this project,” Gibson said. “I can’t think of a time when I was not excited about the project. I’m as passionate about the arts and what is happening here in Troy as I have ever been. But stepping down is the right thing to do, and it’s at the right time.”

Gibson said the time is right to share the leadership role with others.

“I have a phenomenal board,” he said. “The board is full of leaders, of visionaries. They see the vision for the arts and realize the importance of the arts and of the Johnson Center for the Arts, for today and for generations to come.”

Gibson sits at the head of the board almost as a proud papa.

“I get so excited listening to all of the input, to all of the ideas and to the interaction among the board members,” he said. “They know the importance of the arts and they realize the positive, lifelong impact that the arts can have on children and the role the arts can play in improving the quality of life for all of our people.

“This board will continue to promote the arts in Troy and all Pike County and continue to dream of the time when Troy and Pike County will be an arts destination – from the Johnson Center in Troy to the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge to the Bluegrass Festival in Henderson.”

Gibson said the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center started from scratch and it took a village to raise the arts to the level they have reached in only 14 years.

“From the beginning, the City of Troy supported the center,” he said. “Former mayor Jimmy Lunsford and Mayor Jason Reeves realize the importance of the arts in the community. They are both dedicated patrons of the arts and provide the leadership and influence to bring the arts to prominence in Troy.”

Gibson said the full potential of what the arts will mean to Troy and Pike County is yet to be seen.

“The seeds have been planted and are starting to grow,” he said. “But the corn is yet to be reaped. But day will come because we have visionaries on our board and in our city and in our county. Because we have dreamers and doers and because this dream of Troy and Pike County becoming an arts destination is too exciting to walk away from. I’m not going anywhere. I want to be around until harvest time.”