The applicant is requesting approval to change the name of “Visual Arts Studio 1” in the Dr. Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center, at 201 Montgomery Street, to the “Bill Durrence Visual Arts Studio,” in recognition of the contributions of Bill Durrence.

Bill Durrence (Wilbur Henry Durrence, Jr.) is a native Savannahian and a professional photographer with almost 60 years of experience shooting editorial, commercial and personal assignments, a photography teacher for more than 40 years, and a former City of Savannah alderman (2016-2019). His fine arts prints are included in a number of private collections, as well as the City of Savannah Municipal Archives. In 2025, he donated his extensive archive, representing the full breadth of his photography career to the City’s Archives, where it will be accessible to the public.*

*The City of Savannah Municipal Archives is currently working through the transfer and processing phase of this large donation and anticipates opening the first phase of the collection 2026.

The Historic Site and Monument Commission recommends approval to Savannah City Council to change the name of Visual Arts Studio 1 in the Dr. Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center to the Bill Durrence Visual Arts Studio as requested because the proposed renaming meets the standards within Article E-Naming and Renaming of Public Property, Facilities and Streets.

File No. 25-004446-HM