The Old School that is located at the corner of Main Avenue and Pettus Street in Demopolis has seen more than its share of students.

Today, it is used as the headquarters for the Canebrake Players community theater group, but Carolyn Cowling sees its potential as much, much more.

She and a group of people loosely known as “Friends of the Old School” are trying to raise money to renovate the building and use it as a school for the arts.

“Our goal is to restore it and turn it into a destination point, a regional arts school,” Cowling said. “We envision having artists-in-residence come in, perhaps teach classes there.”

The building is currently used not only by the Canebrake Players but also by the Two Rivers Arts Council, the Demopolis Singers and the Girl Scouts.

“We’ll have to go after large grants to do the work,” she said. “The first two stages were already done by the city. They did the rewiring and they put a new roof on the building. Now, what we really need is ingress for handicapped people.”

To become a part of the Old School renovation group or to get more information, write to the Two Rivers Arts Council at P.O. Box 1187, Demopolis, AL 36732.