Bringing the Arts to Rural Tennessee!
Warren Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization comprised of volunteers and dedicated to bringing the arts to rural southern Middle Tennessee.
Our fundraising campaign is the vehicle to raise money to purchase a nearly 100 year old factory and repurpose it into a world class center for the arts complete with art galleries, live performance theaters, art studios, shared industrial art spaces, large event venue, retail arts shops, private lesson space, and storage for artists and individuals. The old factory started as a silk mill and sewing factory in 1926 and eventually became a Form Fit Rogers factory - the lingerie clothing brand of superstar Ginger Rogers! With over 100,000 square feet of usable space, we want to adapt this icon of local and national history into a beautiful and functional arts destination!
Ginger Rogers' - Form Fit Rogers Factory in Tennessee
The artists, performers, creative talents and arts lovers in Warren and surrounding counties in southern middle Tennessee are in need of a visual and performing arts center that will allow more opportunities for growth, development and enjoyment of the arts without having to drive out of town.
Our vision for a comprehensive arts center includes programs that serve artists, the surrounding community and even the mid-state region as a whole, while inherently building a tourist destination that will have a positive economic impact for the whole county.
The building has not been used for regular business operations for many years and although structurally very sound, it is in need of some very costly repairs. The roof must be completely replaced, every square inch must be cleaned, and the entire 1926 original factory section is covered in lead-based paint that must be removed and taken care of.
The building is solid with an amazing foundation and outstanding structure. When the repair work is completed, the Arts Factory will be positioned for functionality for the foreseeable future as a premier performance, gallery and arts studio space!
Open arts studios will allow artists a place to work and the public to interact with artists in their work space and purchase art directly from the artists.
Live theater, recitals, dance performances, poetry reading, concerts, and many other performance arts will be enjoyed in the Warren Arts Factory theaters!
By partnering with our local school systems, we can supplement local schools' underfunded arts programs and help ensure creativity continues to be encouraged and developed!
Large weddings, industry expositions, and corporate training events have to be booked in larger cities 40-90 miles away because there is no place to book such events in our area.
The original 1926 factory is a 27,000 sq ft open area with hundreds of small windows that allow natural light to stream into the space, creating an event planner and photographer's dream space! The factory area is large enough for weddings and receptions of any size and lends a cool industrial vibe to the occasion. Expos and training events will have plenty of room to spread out vendor booths and eating spaces.
Warren Arts is not a real estate development company or a group of investors. We are made up volunteers who are teachers, artists, performers, business leaders, and art lovers who have seen a need in our community and are dedicated to fill it.
We need your help to bring this vision to life and create an amazing arts space and training ground for the entire mid-state area! We have applied for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS and are anxiously awaiting approval. Once we receive that approval, all donations to Warren Arts will be tax deductible. For more information, or to donate directly to the organization today, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you!