Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1540272
50 maconmagazine.com | October/November 2025 In this series, we turn to the passionate Maconites, those who call this vibrant city home, to curate their very own guides to experiencing Downtown Macon. Whether you are a resident seeking to rediscover your city or a curious visitor eager to immerse yourself in the local culture, these guides will open doors to new ideas and lasting memories. Discover what defines Downtown Macon: from feeling the energy of our bustling streets and exploring historic landmarks to savoring the mouthwatering cuisine and engaging with the vibrant arts and music scene. We'll let the insiders share more. M y M a c o n I N P A R T N E R S H I P W I T H N E W T O W N M A C O N I N S I D E R G U I D E S T O D O W N T O W N M A C O N STORY BY KAILEY RHODES | PHOTOS BY JESSICA WHITLEY F rom date nights to art crawls to the pottery Olympics, The 567 Center for Renewal aims to prove that art is for everyone. We sat down with director Melissa Macker. For fifteen years, she's helped transform Downtown Macon into a hub for creativity and community. What began as a small gallery and studio has grown into a cornerstone of Macon's art scene— home to festivals, classes, and public art that ripple far beyond its walls. Melissa's path to The 567 was an unexpected one. Originally from South Florida, she earned her master's degree in public garden management—"basically horticulture with a minor in nonprofits," she said—and once thought she'd run a botanic garden. When her husband's job brought her to Central Georgia, she took her nonprofit background and lifelong love of the arts and poured them into The 567. Fifteen years later, she's still here, shaping the cultural heartbeat of downtown Macon. FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER HEARD OF THE 567 CENTER, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHY IT MATTERS TO MACON? We're a gallery and studio bringing creative life to Downtown Macon. We do that through rotating exhibits, beginner- friendly art classes, a community pottery studio, and our annual festivals and public art projects. Most people get excited about the gallery and the classes, but broadly, we serve