Workhouse Arts Center Goes Virtual, Holds Fundraising Campaign

LORTON, VA — With its campus closed due to coronavirus restrictions, the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton has created a virtual campus. The Workhouse's virtual gallery exhibitions include artist talks, virtual performing arts cabarets and interviews, a virtual tour of the new Lucy Burns Museum, and a virtual Second Saturday Artwalk.

“Expedience in creating and promoting our online courses and virtual tours of gallery exhibits is imperative for us to survive in this new world, one of less direct interaction with our students and audiences,” Dale Marhanka, glass and ceramics program director at the Workhouse, said Thursday in a statement.

The Workhouse was able to secure a CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program loan to sustain payroll for the short-term. The staff has been working on ways to bring the Workhouse offerings online.

Livestream offerings such as classes and the Second Saturday Artwalk are offered through Zoom. Many recorded offerings like the performing arts cabarets and interviews are offered through Facebook and YouTube. Online recorded classes will be offered through a secure online education platform. The next virtual Second Saturday Artwalk is scheduled for May 9.

All of the Workhouse Arts Center online offerings can be found on its website. Livestream class registration is currently open offering classes in visual arts, art of movement, performing arts and private music lessons with classes beginning Monday. Online recorded class registration also opens Monday, with classes in visual arts beginning the week of May 11.

The Workhouse is holding a Workhouse Covid-19 GoFundMe campaign. A group of donors will match dollar for dollar the next $5,000 that is raised through this campaign.

In July 2002, the federal government sold the old Lorton Correctional Facility property to Fairfax County. The site has been part of the D.C. Workhouse and Reformatory Historic District since 2006. The Workhouse Arts Center opened to the public in September 2008.