Lorton Arts Foundation (Formerly Lorton Prison) Excited About 2009

Lorton Arts Foundation (Formerly Lorton Prison) Excited About 2009

LORTON, Va., Dec. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the Workhouse Arts Center brings the year to a close, Sharon Mason, the new interim Executive Director of the Lorton Arts Foundation, continues to plan for what will be an even more exciting 2009. "The possibilities of what we can do here at the Workhouse are only constrained by the ideas that we haven't thought of yet," states Mason. The famed Workhouse is delighted to begin 2009 with the wonderful continued support of the Fairfax County Supervisors and everyone involved in making it such a success story.

The Workhouse Arts Center has just successfully celebrated their first 100 days. During that time the Workhouse has executed 10 separate art exhibitions in Gallery W-16; presented 6 ArtNotes performances; launched an arts education program that has been subscribed at approximately 70% capacity; continued its arts outreach program in the schools; opened 2 exhibitions in each of the studio galleries for the resident artists; and, leased over 90% of studio space to award winning artists from around the region. All of this is in addition to the spectacular grand opening events which brought more than 20,000 people to the site.

In the short time that it has been open, the Workhouse has exhibited the work of nationally know New York artists Alex Beard and Skye Ferrante and fostered community arts partnerships by exhibiting the work of members of the Springfield Art Guild and the League of Reston Artists. In the realm of the performing arts, a partnership with the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City brought internationally known pianist Pedja Muzijevic and choreographer Aszure Barton to the Workhouse. Visitors to the Workhouse had the opportunity to dance to the Latin sounds of the Virginia based band Los Gatos and enjoy the sentimental songs sung by Broadway and cabaret star Barbara Cook.

The Workhouse will end the year with Collector's Society event featuring a concert by internationally known Celtic Band IONA. The 2nd Annual Small Works Exhibition is currently open and will run through January 4 in Gallery W-16 and all of the Workhouses studio buildings and galleries will remain open through December 23.

The year 2009 will be even more exciting here at the Workhouse. Another round of over 130 arts classes and workshops are being offered by our nationally and internationally known Workhouse artists beginning January 12. Arts outreach into local schools will continue and new visual and performing arts partnerships are being formed at the university level as well. The Workhouse will also offer celebrity performances, music and dance events, juried art programs and other outdoor concerts on the lawn.

The Workhouse Arts Center, a program of the Lorton Arts Foundation, aims to enrich the lives of all within its reach by creating a vibrant cultural community that fosters a diverse offering of arts, education, social, and entertainment experiences. Set on 55 acres of land in the former D.C. Workhouse and Reformatory, the Workhouse provides a home for more than 100 of the region's finest professional and emerging artists, classes and arts education programs for people of all ages and artistic abilities, cooperative studios, performance and theatre venues, dedicated gallery and exhibition space, and event facilities. For more information, visit www.WorkhouseArts.org.

Source: Lorton Arts Foundation

CONTACT: Andrea Sims of the Lorton Arts Foundation, Mobile:
+1-703-589-7400, andreasims@lortonarts.org

Web Site: http://www.workhousearts.org/

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