PHONE: (615) 862-8442
Mailing Address: Parks and Recreation Department
Centennial Art Center
P.O. Box 196340
Nashville, TN 37219-6340
Map

Joshua Wagner: Art Center Director and Visual Arts Supervisor
Joshua.Wagner@nashville.gov

Didi (Donelle) McCollum: Gallery Manager
Donelle.McCollum@nashville.gov

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www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Cultural-Arts/Visual-Arts.aspx

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Exhibition Information page 2

HOURS OF OPERATION
It is free and open to the public Monday - Thursday, from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed Friday
Available for rental during other hours

Mission Statement:
The mission of Metro Parks and Recreations' Visual Arts Program is to provide and expand quality art and cultural experiences within Metro Parks' facilities via classes, workshops, art exhibitions and gallery/museum field trips for the citizens and visitors of Metro Nashville, Davidson County.

About Centennial Art Center:
Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center is a Historic Building located in the 25th Ave. N. & Park Plaza corner of Nashville, TN's beautiful Centennial Park. Originally built as a swimming complex in 1932, it closed permanently during the unrest of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. It reopened in 1972 as the first Metro Nashville owned structure rehabilitated for “Adaptive Reuse,” it earned Museum Status by reopening as Centennial Art Center – a gallery and visual arts teaching facility. CAC will celebrate 50 years as a Visual Arts Education Facility in 2022.

Within the walled back courtyard, the Herb Society of Nashville has donated and maintains a beautiful herb garden that surrounds a fountain. The adjacent courtyard is furnished with umbrella tables and chairs. A wonderful area for events, a gathering of friends, club meetings or just relaxing, access to the courtyard is free and open to the public Monday – Thursday, from 9 am – 5 pm.

Centennial Art Center offers popular, affordable, studio art classes that are taught by well-respected art teachers in the region. Classes include drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture and more. Many area artists indeed “got started” through Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center classes and both past and current students consistently win awards in juried exhibitions.

Each year, Centennial Art Center’s gallery hosts six group exhibitions featuring works by numerous professional and emerging local and regional artists. All exhibitions open with festive artists’ receptions that are free and open to the public.

An annual event, the popular Holiday Season Exhibition and Sale – a fundraiser for Creative Parks Nashville (a nonprofit organization that supports Metro Parks’ cultural programs) – is held during the months of November and December and gives Cultural Arts’ staff and students an opportunity to display some of the art works they have created. Holiday shoppers are guaranteed to find an array of unique, one-of-a-kind local art to purchase, while supporting a good cause.

Throughout the years, Metro Parks’ Cultural Arts’ division has won national and regional awards for its programs, and received grants from organizations that enable Divisions within Metro Parks to collaborate – tying in visual arts activities with educational and recreational offerings.

Thanks to Metro Parks’ Centennial Art Center, the cultural and recreational lives of many citizens of Metro Nashville and its visitors are enriched!