The Workhouse Arts Center, a program of the Lorton Arts Foundation, provides visual and performing arts studio and exhibition space as well as engaging arts education programs for people of all ages and artistic abilities. Set on 55 acres of land in the Occoquan Workhouse portion of the historic D.C. Department of Corrections Lorton Reformatory, the Workhouse provides a home for more than 150 of the regions finest professional and emerging artists as well as cooperative studios, performance and theatre venues, dedicated gallery space, and event facilities.[1]
History
editThe Workhouse Arts Center tells a tale of economic development and adaptive reuse. The site, once known as the Occoquan Workhouse, a former part of the D.C. Department of Corrections, holds its place in history as the location where the suffragists were held after protesting for the right to vote.
In 2008, the Lorton Arts Foundation opened the Workhouse Arts Center, an economically stable combination of adaptive reuse and historical preservation, making it a prime location to be featured in this campaign. The Workhouse currently supports more than 125 visual artists, a performing arts department, the Workhouse Film Institute, an Art of Movement program, dedicated Glass and Ceramics residency programs and a retail department.
The Workhouse Arts Center opened its doors in September 2008 with it’s first phase Phase I of the Workhouse Arts Center’s construction encompasses the redevelopment of historic structures for artist studios, exhibition spaces and performing arts and event facilities; community and professional arts education programs, and corporate/community event spaces. Currently ten of the 30 historic buildings are open to the public.
Phase II of construction includes the build out of a theater-in the-raw space, an events center, outdoor event facilities at the Music Barn, and a 40 unit, artist-in-residence colony, which will provide live-work arrangement for artists.[2]
Programs
editThe Workhouse offers a number of courses and workshops in many programs including, the Art of Movement, Dance, Ceramics, Glass, Performing Arts, Film, Animation, Pastels, Painting, Watercolors, Mixed Media, Metals, Paper Arts, Writing and Photography. There are also a number of children's classes, summer camps, and preforming arts programs.[3]
Artist Residency Programs
The Workhouse’s Ceramics Residency Program offers the emerging, pre-professional or professional ceramic artist the individual space and time needed for personal artistic growth in a dynamically cooperative educational environment. The Ceramics Residency Program provides the seriously dedicated ceramic artist with the opportunity and ability to function independently, continue with research, refine and exhibit their work, expand on their educational experiences and contribute to the growth and promotion of the cultural arts in the community, our ceramics program and organization.
The Workhouse’s Glass Residency Program offers glass artists space needed for personal artistic growth in a cooperative educational environment. The new glass facility has eight individual resident artist studio spaces, a dedicated retail gallery space, fully equipped kiln formed glass and flameworking classrooms, a cold shop and workroom spaces. [4]
- ^ About Workhouse http://www.workhousearts.org/about.php
- ^ History http://www.workhousearts.org/history.php
- ^ Classes http://www.workhousearts.org/classes.php
- ^ Artist http://www.workhousearts.org/artist.php