Exhibition Program

The mission of the exhibition program is to support the creative energy of the Workhouse Arts Center with professional exhibitions and strong promotion of the Workhouse artist community. We feature recent work by well-known and emerging artists in curated and juried exhibitions that change roughly every month in our McGuireWoods and Vulcan Galleries. The Workhouse Art Center offers the rare opportunity for visitors to see a range of artistic styles and media and the exhibition program underscores the Center’s commitment to the fine arts and crafts such as drawing and painting, ceramics, fiber art, glass and photography, among others. Focused exhibitions of Workhouse artists provide a forum for our community to connect with collectors and designers in a professional gallery setting.  We believe inventive exhibitions are a core asset to the Workhouse’s creative economy. 

The Workhouse’s exhibition program has three components; Content, Collaboration and Commerce:

• Content
  Original exhibitions organized by the Workhouse that highlight innovative and traditional work in the fine arts and crafts.  These shows often focus on media relevant to the Workhouse, such as the Workhouse Clay National Exhibit and the Glass Invitational.  Others serve as a catalyst for guest curators to invigorate the Workhouse’s community with new ideas and perspectives.  These shows provide the Workhouse’s primary intellectual and artistic presence in the Washington area arts scene.

• Collaboration
  Every year, the Workhouse Arts Center works with area schools and other non-profits on projects that inspire and stimulate people of all ages.  The Annual Congressional Art Competition, featuring the best scholastic work from Fairfax and Prince William Public Schools, is an example of a vital Workhouse collaboration.  Other collaborative exhibitions feature artworks created by senior citizens and developmentally disabled adults using art instruction as a therapy.  These exhibitions underscore the Workhouse’s belief that the arts can improve the lives of all people.

• Commerce 
  An ongoing series of exhibitions that feature the Workhouse’s artist community in media specific and thematic shows that aim to market our creative output to the art buying public.  Dynamic installations and a wide variety of styles reveal the depth and breadth of work being produced at the Workhouse.  These exhibitions serve as a vehicle to connect the art and artists of the Workhouse with the broader community. Related programming celebrates the Workhouse’s unique artistic community.