The Emporium Center and The Balcony are open to the public:
Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
First Friday of the month, 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday following the First Friday, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
We are closed for major holidays.
Administrative offices:
| Suite 103 | Keep Knoxville Beautiful |
| Suite 104 | Circle Modern Dance |
| Suite 106 | African-American Appalachian Arts, Inc. |
| Suite 106 | The Carpetbag Theatre |
| Suite 109 | HoLa Hora Latina |
| Suite 110 | Foothills Craft Guild |
| Suite 112 | Tennessee Stage Company |
| Suite 114 | The Carpetbag Theatre's Black Box Theater |
| Suite 201 | Arts & Culture Alliance |
| Suite 302 | Knoxville Symphony Orchestra |
Artist studios and galleries:
| Suite 101 | Bob Leggett |
| Suite 102 | Kurt Weiss |
| Suite 105 | Artist-in-Residence (Rafael Casco) |
| Suite 107 | Bobbie Crews |
| Suite 108 | Judi Gaston |
| Suite 111 | Mike Berry |
| Suite 113 | Rebecca Johns, Ray Snyder |
The mission of the Emporium Center galleries is to showcase the diversity of art and culture being created throughout the Greater Knoxville area through exhibitions that include, but are not limited to, artistic works of quality aesthetic value, works that present new forms and ideas, and works that contribute significant knowledge in the understanding of art and culture.
The Emporium Center presents approximately 24 exhibitions each year in both its Main Gallery and The Balcony. The goal of its programming is to present work that is diverse, including visual art, performance art, installation art, music, poetry, and fine arts. The Balcony also provides exhibition opportunities for emerging artists and those who are creating works that are on-the-edge and challenge viewers. Exhibitions may specifically educate viewers in the understanding of the arts and may include related demonstrations. At times the Gallery hosts special group shows such as work by artist organizations from outlying areas that enlarge the scope of the artistic community.
Neighborhood and Building History
Knoxville’s first true arts center opened in downtown at 100 South Gay Street in July 2004. Built in 1898 as the original home of a prestigious furniture company, the Emporium Building 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 now houses the Emporium Center Galleries, the administrative offices of the Arts & Culture Alliance, and nine other arts and cultural organizations. Additionally, the building houses rehearsal, classroom and meeting space; studio for nine individual artists; and gallery space. The Alliance's Emporium Center project was designed to attract more visitors to downtown to enjoy arts and cultural programming and conduct arts-related business. At the same time, the project 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.
