PHONE: (615) 862-8442 or (615) 862-8443
FAX: (615) 880-1716
Mailing Address: Parks and Recreation Department
Centennial Art Center
P.O. Box 196340
Nashville, TN 37219-6340
Map

Brenda McSurley, Visual Arts Supervisor & Centennial Art Center Director
E-Mail: brenda.mcsurley@nashville.gov

Gallery Manager
E-Mail: Joshua.Wagner@nashville.gov

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web site: 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 in 1959 and was renovated in 1971. 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.

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 – Friday, from 9 am – 5 pm. Available for rental (weddings, etc.,) during other hours, PH (615) 862-8442 for rental information.

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 co-sponsored by Cabot Creamery and are free and open to the public.

An annual event, the popular Holiday Season Exhibition and Sale – a fundraiser for Arts in the Parks (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. To join Arts in the Parks, phone (615) 862-8442 or E-mail: Brenda.McSurley@Nashville.Gov

A mutually beneficial partnership – coordinated through Centennial Art Center – involves the Frist Center for the Visual Arts “Art Trunk” Community Outreach Program. Over a dozen different Metro Parks’ Community Centers are supplied with “Art Trunks” – educational kits with different themes designed to enrich the appreciation and understanding of present and past Frist Center exhibitions. Kits include reproductions of artwork and guided lesson plans for children and Senior Citizens. The Frist Center provides training for Metro Parks’ staff that conducts the programs and accompanies their students to the Frist Center to see the works they have studied.

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!