History:

When Oak Ridge was founded for the Manhattan Project, individuals were brought to the newly formed city from all over the world. Isolated "behind the fence," they needed facilities to socialize, entertain, and provide intellectual and creative stimulation. They formed small interest groups and studied or worked together in specific areas of interest. The arts were a primary area of interest and brought people together with joy and the unique spirit of creative energy. Individuals worked in a variety places and loosely organized ways until 1952 when a small group of those participants banded together to create a formal structure and lasting presence for the visual arts in the community as the Oak Ridge Community Art Center.

The program was housed in rented spaces for several years before building an arts specific facility at the current site, 201 Badger Avenue, in 1968. The center had one multipurpose studio, one gallery, and a small work area for loading, storage, and maintenance. Later that small work room became our pottery studio and soon after we built a small addition for kilns. The program grew. Demand for exhibitions and educational programs was high. In 1978, two new galleries, a reception area and two walled gardens were added to the front of the facility and the old gallery was converted to studio space. As interest in hand made ceramics grew, the pottery department grew into the storage and maintenance areas and an area for outdoor kilns was added to pursue reduction firing and raku. In 1998, the walled gardens were enclosed, creating the Lee Shoup, Alice Runtsch Library and the Mirjam Koehler Collection Archives facility. As demand for programs increased and our pottery department not only outgrew that facility, but the capacity of the adjoining studio, we acknowledged the need for a much expanded ceramics facility. In 2007, we expanded the pottery facility, replacing the old kiln facility, kiln shed, and more than doubling the space.