Workhouse Arts Center, Arts complex in Lorton, Virginia, US
The Workhouse Arts Center is an arts complex in Lorton, Virginia that spans 55 acres and contains nine galleries, theaters, and artist studios within former prison buildings dating from the early 1900s. The historical architecture defines the grounds and creates an unusual setting for artistic work and public exhibitions.
The site was built in 1910 as the Occoquan Workhouse and briefly housed women suffragists who fought for voting rights through White House protests in 1917. After closing, it was gradually transformed into a space for artistic activity.
Working artists occupy the former prison buildings daily, creating ceramics, glass art, paintings, and textiles in spaces that have been transformed from cells into creative studios. This transformation from confinement to creation gives the place a distinctive character that visitors feel as they walk through the grounds.
Visits are best timed with scheduled exhibitions or events, as some areas are only accessible during these times. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the grounds are large and require walking between different buildings and spaces.
Workshops here feature techniques not commonly found in converted prison spaces, such as glass-blowing and metalworking in rooms that were once cells. This contrast between the industrial past and fine artistic crafts creates a distinctive feeling as visitors move through the spaces.
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