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Outside photo of the Emporium

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The Emporium Center

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In July 2004, Knoxville's first true arts center opened in downtown at 100 South Gay Street. Built in 1895 as the original home of a prestigious furniture company, the Emporium housed a wholesale goods distributor and later became a textile manufacturing facility that fulfilled military contracts. The two adjacent buildings and the vacant lot were the location of the "Parthenon of Country Music," which served as the home of the WNOX Mid-day Merry-Go-Round. The 28,000 square feet of flexible use space houses multiple galleries with monthly changing exhibitions and the following administrative offices: Arts & Culture Alliance, Foothills Craft Guild, HoLa Hora Latina, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Nief-Norf, Tennessee Artists Association, and Tennessee Stage Company. The Emporium also houses studios for eight artists, Gallery 1010 (UT School of Art's student-run, non-profit, off-campus exhibition space), and The Arrowmont Gallery in Knoxville.

The Alliance's Emporium Center was designed to attract more visitors to downtown to enjoy arts and cultural programming and conduct arts-related business. At the same time, it provides affordable space for a critical mass of arts and culture organizations and artists, generates coordination and joint promotion of arts and culture activities, and provides another valuable attraction in a revitalized downtown. Knoxville's arts district was voted No. 2 “Best Arts District” nationwide in USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2024 poll! Please visit the Arts & Culture Alliance website for more information: www.knoxalliance.com. Follow us on social media! Instagram @artsandculturealliance or Facebook @KnoxArtAndCultureAlliance

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Enjoy hors d'oeuvres at FIrst Friday
Attending a seminar
First Friday gallery opening
3-D printing demo
The Balcony gallery
The inside of the Emporium
The Balcony gallery
Enjoying an exhibition at the Emporium
Flamenco dancers
Attending a gallery reception
Attending a gallery reception
First Friday at the Emporium
First Friday at the Emporium
Local musicians performing in the Emporium
The Emporium Center
Hours
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, First Fridays 9am-9pm , select Sat 10am-1pm (EST)
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For the most up-to-date hours and information, please contact The Emporium Center directly.

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