Mission:      

The Lorton Arts Foundation was founded in 2001 to lead the transformation effort of turning the Occoquan Workhouse Prison into a thriving world class center for the arts while preserving its rich architectural and cultural heritage. Studies from leading art advocacy organizations, such as Americans for the Arts, have shown that a thriving, regionally based artist community can have a significant impact on the prosperity and quality of life of both artists and citizens. The key for this effort is a facility with the scope and scale to provide a diverse arts experience in a highly interactive manner. This in turn creates a viable economic engine that sustains the effort and delivers the benefits to all. The Workhouse Arts Center is uniquely positioned to fulfill this role.

It is the mission of the Lorton Arts Foundation and The Workhouse Arts Center to enrich the lives of all within our reach by creating a vibrant cultural community that fosters a diverse offering of arts, education, social and entertainment experiences for people of all ages.