Freedom Through the Arts – Free Opportunities for Returned Citizens
Begun as a Pilot Program offering free art classes to individuals impacted by the criminal justice system — empowering creativity, healing, and self-expression. Opportunities through the Freedom program still exist. See below for what is upcoming or request more info to learn about new additions as they are launched.
TIS THE SEASON
Every November, the Workhouse partners with O.A.R. NoVA to supply justice impacted families with toys during the holiday season. We collect new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages at our site and bring them to O.A.R. headquarters in advance of their signature Kidmas event.
Please consider dropping off a toy donation for our drive between November 4 and December 14, 2026. If you are interested in financially supporting the toy drive, please email us at Freedom@workhousearts.org.
Kidmas is a fun holiday event for justice impacted families in O.A.R.’s service area. O.A.R. provides food, games, and a festive atmosphere for an evening of fun. The Workhouse Arts Center and Lorton Prison Museum provide toys for the event and sponors craft activities for all ages.
Discover the Healing Power of Art in Lorton, VA
The Workhouse Arts Center, located in Lorton, Virginia, is proud to announce the launch of Freedom Through the Arts, a pilot program dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. With a commitment to empowering underserved communities, this initiative builds on our history and successful Workhouse Military Arts Initiative (WMAI) model to offer creative pathways for healing, growth, and self-expression.
This pilot program concluded December 2025.
We are currently reassessing our offering and ways to connect with the justice impacted community. If you are interested in participating in future programs inspired by the pilot program or want to support this kind of life-changing programing in our community, please connect with us here.
What is Freedom Through the Arts?
Let creativity guide your journey toward healing, connection, and growth. Join us for this transformative program and discover the power of art to inspire change.
Free Art Workshops
Provide free art workshops to returned citizens, offering a safe space for creative exploration and skill-building.
Build Confidence & Social Skills
Help participants build self-confidence, social skills, and potential income opportunities through the arts.
Family Healing
Supporting families affected by incarceration with family art workshops, fostering connection and healing through shared artistic activities.
FAQs
-
Freedom Through the Arts was a pilot program at the Workhouse Arts Center that provided free art workshops for justice impacted individuals (returned citizens) and their families. The program focuses on creative expression, skill-building, and personal growth through therapeutic-informed art instruction.
-
The program is open to:
Returned citizens: Adults who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
Families: Family members of individuals affected by incarceration, with workshops open to participants ages 5+ (all children must be accompanied by an adult).
-
The workshops will cover a variety of art forms. During this pilot of the program, we will have workshops on watercolor, printmaking, flamework glass, and raku (ceramics). Each workshop will focus on a specific medium, providing participants with hands-on experience.
-
All workshops are free of charge. Supplies costs are included. Additionally, travel subsidies may be available for participants to assist with transportation.
-
Workshops will be held at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA. They are scheduled from February to May 2024 on a mix of weekday evenings and weekend afternoons to accommodate participants’ availability. Specific dates will be announced soon.
-
Yes! Participants are welcome to attend multiple workshops, space permitting. You can explore different art forms or deepen your skills in a medium you've already tried. Space is limited and claimed on a first-come, first-served basis.
-
You can email Freedom@WorkhouseArts.org or call (703) 584.2914 to contact us directly for assistance or more information.
-
We are currently looking for partners to continue this program past the pilot phase. Please connect with us if you know of any groups or individuals who would be interested in work with us on this project.
-
The program offers standalone family workshops to provide loved ones impacted by incarceration an opportunity to create, bond, and heal together through art.
-
No. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program.
Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to safely administer workshops and monitor minors. But our Family Workshops are fun and engaging for all ages – parents will enjoy the activities as much if not more than their kids.
We’re here to help and look forward to your participation!
-
When you register for the workshops you are interested in, please indicate that you do not have reliable transportation to access the Workhouse campus. We will work with you to provide adequate subsidies.
-
The Workhouse Arts Centers offers hundreds of arts classes of the course of the year, taught by professional artist instructors. The instructors for this program are seasoned art teachers with decades of combined experience in working with students. Each workshop description lists the instructor.
-
For inquiries or updates, please contact:
📧 Email: Freedom@WorkhouseArts.org
📞 Phone: (703) 584.2914
🌐 Website: WorkhouseArts.org/FreedomWe’re here to help and look forward to your participation!
Why Choose Workhouse Arts Center?
Nestled in the heart of historic Lorton, VA, the Workhouse Arts Center is a vibrant cultural destination just 50 miles from Washington, DC. Once a correctional facility, the Workhouse has been transformed into a dynamic hub for creativity, education, and community engagement. With its unique blend of rich history and modern artistic innovation, the Workhouse provides a welcoming space for individuals to explore their creative potential.
Our programs are thoughtfully designed to inspire both personal growth and collective transformation, fostering connections through the arts while celebrating the power of self-expression. Whether you’re an artist, a visitor, or a participant, the Workhouse is a place where history meets hope, and creativity shapes the future.
How to get involved.
Interested in participating or learning more? Join us in this exciting new initiative and help shape the future of community-based arts programming.
Location: Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA
Cost: Free for all participants
Travel Subsidies: Available for eligible participants
Freedom@WorkhouseArts.org
(703) 584-2900
