Otis Redding Center for the Arts Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Summer Camp Openings and Community Honors

The Otis Redding Foundation is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Otis Redding Center for the Arts (ORCA) this month.

The milestone was marked with an open house on April 11, attended by Zelma Redding, widow of Otis Redding, and Mike Mills of R.E.M., who was named the 2025 recipient of the Otis Redding Spirit of Community Award.

In conjunction with the anniversary celebration, registration was announced for upcoming summer sessions of Otis Music Camp (June 1–20) and Camp Dream (July 20–31).

Named after the soul legend known for hits such as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “Respect,” ORCA provides music and arts programs for students aged 5 to 18.

Beyond the seasonal camps, the center offers private lessons and workshops, with a curriculum that covers both the creative and business aspects of the music industry, including content creation, performance, entertainment law, engineering, graphic design, and touring.

The 15,000-square-foot facility also houses the O3 Recording Studio and the Zelma Redding Amphitheater.

There’s something different about walking into a space that carries your family’s name — your family’s work, your family’s spirit. At the Otis Redding Center for the Arts, that feeling is everywhere. It’s not just pride — it’s responsibility. The kind you feel in your chest.

Zelma Redding, in comments emailed to Billboard

Zelma Redding emphasized that maintaining the center is deeply personal, stating that It’s about more than programs or schedules — it is about legacy, honoring Otis Redding’s life and vision, and continuing his belief in giving back and creating opportunity.

She described the arts as a pathway to confidence, expression, and possibility, explaining that preserving the center means protecting that pathway so young people — whether they grew up around music or are discovering it for the first time — can feel they belong.

According to Zelma Redding, legacy requires intention, care, and a commitment to growth, and the work being done through the Otis Redding Foundation is about ensuring that Otis Redding’s legacy continues to move forward, remains accessible and real, and helps shape the future rather than merely reflecting the past.

More information about the Otis Redding Center for the Arts and its programs is available at https://www.orcamacon.org/.