doc, sorry you have not gotten any answers for your questions, but we just don't have anybody in the Auburn area right now. Auburn is, of course, the home of Auburn University, which opened a beautiful art museum two or three years ago. That arts scene is all that you would expect of a big 4-year university.
Auburn, the town, and Opelika are small and rural. I'm not sure what you mean by "same old small town arts programs."

Any small town would be blessed, I think, to have any arts programs at all.