A selection of diverse exhibits, an increasingly popular rental venue and a record year for donations all made for a successful year at the Carnegie Arts Center, both in the realms of arts and financially.

Over the course of the 2017, the Carnegie Arts Center saw more than 18,000 people pass through the doors, according to the organization’s annual report, which was presented to the Turlock City Council on Tuesday.

“The total number of people coming through our doors continues to be strong,” said Carnegie Arts Center Director Lisa McDermott.

The Carnegie hosted nine art exhibits over the year, which drew in 5,478 visitors. The highlight of the exhibits was the headlining “Nature, Tradition, and Innovation” show that showcased contemporary Japanese ceramic art.

The Carnegie was the destination for 35 field trips from schools around the region, with 2,239 viewing the art in the gallery and another 1,166 seeing a theatrical performance.

“This probably has the largest impact of any of the events that we continue to do,” McDermott said of the field trips.

The Carnegie was the site of 63 programs and special events in 2017, which brought in 5,088 visitors. The facility also was a popular option for the area for rentals, with a total of 40, which brought in $69,111 for the year.

The Carnegie also received $17,698 in donations for the year, which McDermott said was the highest amount reached in five years. All total, the Carnegie had $312,571 in unrestricted revenue and $371,090 in expenses. The difference was made up from a distribution from the Carnegie’s endowment fund.