Recently, we put together a list of charming and affordable suburbs in the Atlanta area. While a neighborhood’s aesthetic appeal and price are important factors to take into consideration when looking for a new place to live, what the neighborhood has to offer in terms of arts and culture is also worth considering.

That being said, here are five arts and culture amenities in Metro Atlanta you’ll want to make sure are on your clients’ radar:

1. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center – Opened in 2006, the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center focuses on educating the community about environmental challenges, promoting sustainable development and enhancing the appreciation of Gwinnett county’s natural resources.  The center, a 66,000-square-foot facility, is located on a  700-acre campus, with walking trails and green space. In line with its sustainable mission, the center is Gwinnett County’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building, and has one of the largest vegetated roofs in the U.S. While many of the exhibits at the center focus on educating children, the center has adult classes as well.

2. Gwinnett History Museum – Located within the Lawrenceville Female Seminary (which is on the Register of Historic Places), the Gwinnett History Museum houses artifacts relating to the history of Gwinnett County. The Heritage Programming and Preservation office holds special events promoting heritage, along with research assistance, monthly coffeehouse nights and classes.

3. Hudgens Center for the Arts – The Hudgens Center for the Arts has a wide variety of artwork, including paintings, drawings, prints, pottery and sculpture. Hudgens also has programs for children, such as “Toddler Fridays” (on the last Friday of every month), where children can listen to stories and make crafts. Additionally, Hudgens hosts private events in their award-winning Al Weeks Sculpture Garden and other venues in its 2,800 square feet of private outdoor space. The garden was recently named an official wildlife sanctuary by the Audubon Society.

4. Suwanee SculpTour – Supported through Suwanee’s Public Arts Commission, the fourth annual SculpTour features work from local artists in and around Town Center Park. The 17 pieces featured in this year’s SculpTour, arranged on a one-mile walking tour, will be on exhibit until March 2017. At the end of the exhibit, the city of Suwanee adds one of the sculptures to its permanent art collection based upon which piece gets the most votes.

5. Georgia Symphony Orchestra – The Georgia Symphony Orchestra performs a wide range of music, from classical to pop, throughout the year. With an estimated 15,000 patrons annually, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra offers musical opportunities to the Metro Atlanta through its programming and three youth orchestras.

Photo Credit: Jcherepy, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Female_Seminary_Building_-_Lawrenceville,_Georgia.jpg