FIREHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER - Gateway to Soulsville, USA
985 So. Bellevue (aka Elvis Presley Blvd) @ Walker Ave.
By Car 1-240 Midtown (Exit 28A – South Parkway or Exit 29B –Lamar East) MATA Bus Route 31 or 13
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 am - 6 pm; Sat. 10 am - 2 pm
901.948.9522 * E-mail memphisarts@bellsouth.net
Mail Address: P.O. Box 40854 * Memphis,TN 38174-0854
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Here you will find performances... classes... art galleries... summer camps... places to hold your special event... exhibits... a community of learning, a community of the arts and a community which celebrates and nurtures the cultural contributions of blacks, helping all to feel good about who they are regardless of ages, incomes, abilities, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Our programs are designed to offer easy and affordable access to high quality cultural instruction and arts programming which: instills pride, discipline, reflection, positive action on social issues; improves cognitive and social skills; develops talent and offers arts-related job training; encourages and promotes entrepreneurship in the arts; and, promotes harmony and appreciation of diversity within and outside the black community.
The first professionally staffed, year-round, non-profit cultural center in Tennessee, MBAA has proudly focused on building the community through the arts with a focus on appreciating and developing African-American’s rich tradition of contributions to all the arts disciplines. Since its founding in 1982, MBAA has employed more than 300 artists, singers, actors, dancers, musicians, and writers; and attracted more than 300,000 as visitors, students, audience, supporters and volunteers from throughout the Greater Memphis region to performances; educational classes, camps, and workshops serving individuals through 6 months through adults; artists’ residencies; exhibits of established and emerging local, regional and national artists; and an extensive ArtsReach program offered to youth and adults at schools, senior centers, social agencies, businesses and other public and private organizations.
The FireHouse Community Arts Center, home to MBAA is a historic 1910 city fire station converted into an inviting and nurturing multi-disciplinary arts center and grounds including the Fannie Lou Hammer AgriCultural Garden. The Center—available for private rentals-provides a vital gateway to the Soul of the City, South Memphis/Soulsville, USA, which is home to this region’s most historic African-American contributions to education, business, religion and culture.
Today, MBAA's offers numerous heritage and multi-arts-based place(s), experiences and services which include:
FIREHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS ACADEMY – Year-round group and private classes help folks of all ages, incomes, abilities and backgrounds, discover and refine their talents through, professionally instructed and culturally inspired arts education in dance, music, and theater, visual and literary arts.
THE FIREHOUSE LITTLE THEATER AND MBAA PRESENTS... are MBAA’s performing arts offerings during the year. They include the production of plays by local and national playwrights that address the complexity and beauty of life in the black community and the production of recitals, concerts and special performances by students, faculty, affiliate arts groups and other local talent.
THE FIREHOUSE ART GALLERY strives to be a gallery of distinction and to serve as a creative resource primarily for artists of African descent. We seek to promote unique works of art that enhance and define private and corporate spaces by providing professional credibility, aesthetic vitality, and when required, long-term investment value to any home, public or private agency environment.
FIREHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTSREACH establishes partnerships and programs, off-site, for schools, businesses, government and community agencies and groups to include classes, art-integrated education, performances, exhibits and special creative and cultural/heritage-based arts projects.
FAMILY CULTURAL ARTS EDUCATION SERIES offers students, MBAA members and their families “informances” and showcase events featuring Academy faculty and special guests presenters. The series feeds the cultural spirit and provides fellowship and appreciation of the real world demands of excellence, marketability and hard work of artists and other cultural workers.
FIRE UP YOUR PARTIES AT THE FIREHOUSE - RENT THE FIREHOUSE & GROUNDS. The FireHouse Community Arts Center, formerly a one-truck fire station was converted in 1984 into a multi-purpose community arts and cultural center. It serves as a creative and inviting space & lawn for birthday parties for all ages, receptions, meetings, reunions, etc. We can assist you in planning your party or event around a theme or you may plan your own special event. Call us or e-mail us for more details.
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Thank you for visiting, please call 901.948.9522 for additional information.
MBAA Presents...'The ME Nobody Knows'
