Between a calendar full of events and a number of recent new tenants, the parking lost at Southern Cultural Heritage Center has been packed lately.

In addition to hosting cooking workshops and painting classes, the center has become the temporary home of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers information technology contractor Vectrus, Stacey Massey, director of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation told Port City Kiwanis this week.

“We have about 50 extra people in our building right now,” Massey said. “It’s nice to have other faces around.”

Vectrus officials have declined to comment.

Renting out office space and other areas of the center is an important fundraising tool for the nonprofit organization, Massey said.

“We rent out our auditorium, our classrooms, our courtyard, the convent for things like wedding receptions, parties banquets and reunions,” she said. “You name it, we can host it.”

The center is made up of five buildings constructed between 1830 and 1955 as part of the Saint Francis Xavier convent and school. The entire block is designated as a Mississippi landmark.

“It’s one of the most architecturally and historically significant treasures is downtown Vicksburg,” Massey said.

In 2014, the SCHF celebrated 20 years of promoting the humanities and arts in Vicksburg.

“We plan to continue that for the next 20 years and beyond,” Massey said.

The organization has two full-time and one part-time employee who organize and set up for events held in the historic complex.

“We really rely on our volunteers to help with our events,” she said.

Upcoming events include the Southern Book Club’s discussion of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, sandwich bread making and ballroom dancing lessons.

For more information or complete listing of events, call 601-631-2997 or visit www.southernculture.org.