Events & Exhibitions at Workhouse
Current and Upcoming Events, Exhibitions, and More
Required Reading Exhibit
Required Reading provides a space for reflection and insight on text through explorations of the fragility of communication. The traditional writing tools including letterpress, typewriters, bookbinding, and embroidery merge with digital era symbols and laser-cut machinery to create powerful narratives that elevate text to new heights. On view now—don’t miss it!
Appearance Exhibition
Workhouse Arts Center presents Appearance, an exhibition that challenges perceptions of identity, self-presentation, and representation. Visit in Lorton, VA, and explore this thought-provoking collection.
Investigating Identity Exhibition
Workhouse Arts Center presents Investigating Identity, an exhibition featuring student artists from NOVA & GMU, exploring self-portraiture and identity through diverse materials. On view March 29 – May 3, 2025, with a public reception on April 12, 6–8 PM.
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Walking tour of the historic former prison site that is the Workhouse Art Center campus.
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Walking tour of the historic former prison site that is the Workhouse Art Center campus.
Jesus Christ Superstar
A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Walking tour of the historic former prison site that is the Workhouse Art Center campus.
Workhouse Classic: Fundraiser Golf Tournament
The Workhouse Golf Classic is a fundraiser supporting the Workhouse Arts Center, offering a day of golf and networking while benefiting a vibrant local arts community.
Learning at Lunch: Pilot Substance Abuse Program
The Pilot Substance Abuse Program (PSAP) was a special drug rehabilitation program started by Dr. Jasper Ormond at the Lorton Correctional Complex in 1989. Photographer Lloyd Wolf documented the program intensively for over a year, recording images of the participating inmates.
Workhouse Performing Arts Homecoming Concert
Don’t miss the Workhouse Performing Arts Homecoming Concert in Lorton, VA on June 1! Enjoy a night of music, dancing, and the 25/26 season reveal. General admission is pay-what-you-will or upgrade with a Theater Lover Table!
Learning at Lunch: Pride in Prison
In the 91 years of operation, the experience of LGBTQ+ inmates would change dramatically through the years. Museum Coordinator Jay Loy discusses the complicated history of incarceration for LGBTQ+ people inside of the Lorton Prison to close out Pride Month at the Workhouse.
Learning at Lunch: The Smithsonian and Lorton
The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) has a long history of engagement with the Lorton Correctional Complex. Archivist Jennifer Morris shares information and examples from ACM’s collection.
Holi Techno Color Festival
Join us for the Holi Techno Color Festival on April 26 at Workhouse Arts Center! From 11 AM to 7 PM, enjoy vibrant colors, live music, dancing, tasty food, and activities for all ages. Tickets $5–$10.
World Thai Chi & Qigong Day
Experience the healing power of Tai Chi and Qigong with free demos and mini-classes at the Workhouse Arts Center. On Saturday, April 26 from 10 AM to 12 PM, explore movement, mindfulness, and relaxation in a beautiful setting—no experience needed!
'Seeking & Seeing Beauty' Sound Bath with Iris McCray
Discover the hidden beauty that surrounds us in every moment with Seeking & Seeing Beauty, a sound bath experience at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA. Through soothing frequencies from Crystal Singing Bowls, Harp, and Shofar, this session will guide you toward deep relaxation and spiritual harmony, allowing you to reconnect with the unseen beauty in your life.
Learning at Lunch: Workhouse to ARC
The Lorton Prison Museum featuring the Lucy Burns Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center is proud to present the third season of Learning at Lunch, a series illuminating aspects of the former prison’s 91-year history. Each month, we invite an expert to tackle a topic related to our complicated past.
Historic Campus Walking Tour
Walking tour of the historic former prison site that is the Workhouse Art Center campus.
“Art in Bloom” Open House & Art Walk
Join us for the Art in Bloom Open House & Art Walk at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA! Experience live music, artist studio tours, interactive exhibits, and delicious food. This family-friendly event celebrates creativity and spring, with free admission for all!
Book Launch: “One Step Forward”
Book Launch for “One Step Forward” - a conversation between author Marcie Flinchum Atkins and playwright Alli Hartley-Kong.
Learning at Lunch: Gamifying Women’s History
In honor of Women’s History month, board game designer Tory Brown joins us for a special iteration of Learning at Lunch. Brown designed the award-winning board game Votes for Women for Fort Circle Games that has been lauded by Smithsonian Magazine, NPR, and Vulture.
Annual Workhouse Ball
An exciting evening celebrating the arts and the vibrant community that makes the Workhouse Arts Center a cultural gem
'Choice of Choosing' Sound Bath with Iris McCray
Are your choices intentional or guided by habit? Choice of Choosing is a sound bath experience at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, designed to help you tap into subconscious patterns, release what no longer serves you, and embrace clarity in decision-making. Join us this March for an immersive journey.
Special Tour: Prison Reimagined
Special exhibition tour of Prison Reimagined with Janie Ritter from the Justice Arts Coalition.
Clyde’s
In CLYDE’S, a truck stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption.
2nd Saturday Open House & Art Walk - Theme: Art Madness
Join us at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA for our 2nd Saturday Open House, featuring art exhibitions, open artist studios, and exciting activities for all ages. Explore the galleries, meet featured artists, and take part in fun workshops and classes. Enjoy free activities like the Workhouse Treasure Hunt and more!
EqualiTEA
In celebration of Women's History Month, the Lucy Burns Museum is hosting a morning EqualiTEA to honor both the important women throughout history and the women important to the suffrage movement.
Learning at Lunch: Prison Reimagined at the Workhouse
The Workhouse Arts Center partnered with the Justice Arts Coalition to present Prison Reimagined, an exhibition both curated by and featuring the work of currently incarcerated individuals. These original pieces of visual and written art depict U.S. presidents, both past and present, and critically examine their records on criminal justice.
'Coherence' Sound Bath with Iris McCray
Join us for Coherence Sound Bath with Iris Cray at Workhouse Arts Center, where calming sounds and vibrations create a space for relaxation, mindfulness, and renewal. Perfect for anyone seeking inner peace and stress relief.
Reimagine the Art of PRP3
Join us for a FREE, hands-on, interactive, art-translation workshop hosted by Prison Reimagined and Justice Arts Coalition's Isaac Scott. Participants will interpret and answer specific works of art from the PRP3 exhibition with their own original creations.
2nd Saturday Open House - Theme LOVE
Experience the vibrant energy of 2nd Saturday at Workhouse Arts Center! Enjoy open artist studios, live performances, interactive workshops, and family-friendly activities. Join us every month for an evening of creativity and community.
Flourish 2025
'Flourish 2025' at Workhouse Arts Center celebrates bold artistic expressions and the thriving creativity within our community. On view from February 1 to March 23, the exhibition culminates with the Workhouse Ball on March 22, offering art auctions and lively entertainment. Discover more about this vibrant event.
(un)Endangered Species; Re-imagined Places Exhibit
Step into a world of imagination and transformation with Andi Cullins’ exhibit, (un)Endangered Species; Re-imagined Places, at the Workhouse Arts Center. This captivating exhibition blends African and Aboriginal fabric patterns with reclaimed objects, creating a vibrant landscape of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. Through her innovative fabric mosaics and surface designs, Cullins redefines familiar scenes and rescued creatures, inviting viewers to explore beauty, movement, and a reimagined reality. On view January 25 – March 23, 2025, with a reception on March 8, 2025, from 6-8pm.
“Inner Wisdom” Sound Bath with Iris McCray
Discover the power of inner wisdom in this month’s Sound Bath session. Inspired by the ancient symbolism of elephants, this meditative journey uses Indian Elephant Bells, Conch, and Burmese Ganesha Spin Gong to help remove obstacles and access the vast memory of human consciousness. Experience healing vibrations and find insight into your path forward.
Prison Reimagined Exhibition
Step inside a thought-provoking journey through "Prison Reimagined," a powerful collection of visual and written works crafted by incarcerated individuals. These pieces critically examine the impact of U.S. presidents on criminal justice while shedding light on the personal, carceral human experience. As you explore this exhibition, housed in the Workhouse Arts Center—a former prison transformed into a space of creativity and possibility—you are invited to rethink justice and freedom in America through the eyes of those directly affected.
Bollywood Groove & Screen Magic - Dance!
Join us for a vibrant four-week journey into the world of Bollywood! This class emphasizes not only dance moves but the power of storytelling through posture, hand gestures, facial expressions, and footwork.
2nd Saturday Create & Sip
Looking for a fun, creative night out? Join artist David Vickers at the Workhouse Arts Center for a one-of-a-kind workshop where you’ll sip on wine and create your own masterpiece. No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm, and we’ll provide the rest!
2nd Saturday Winter Warm-Up
Join us on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, for our 2nd Saturday Winter Warm-Up. Enjoy an evening filled with art, creativity, and family-friendly activities, including free and paid classes, studio open houses, a treasure hunt, and warm treats. Admission is free; some activities may have a fee.
“Birthing the Light” Sound Bath with Iris McCray
Join us for the December Sound Bath, a transformative journey of awakening the light within. By harmonizing the sacred feminine and masculine energies, this experience invites you to embrace wholeness and step into your innate purpose—to be the light for the benefit of all.
Second Saturday Art Walk
Come on out to this free event to view beautiful works of art including glass, ceramics, paintings, photography, textiles, jewelry and more. Most items in the studios are available for purchase. Our talented artists will be there to chat about their works and processes. Galleries, gift shop, and the Lucy Burns Museum will be open extended hours.
Orthodox Icon Acrylic Painting Workshop
Discover the beauty and tradition of Orthodox icon painting in this hands-on workshop. Guided by expert instruction, participants will learn to layer colors, add decorative details, and explore the rich symbolism behind these sacred artworks. Perfect for all skill levels!
Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be "Out There," observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools.
Annual Student & Instructor Exhibition
Celebrate creativity and achievement at the Workhouse Arts Center! This inspiring exhibit showcases paintings, drawings, glass, and clay works from our talented students and esteemed instructors.