Lots of different studios and many buildings to explore. If you like history the museum is worthwhile ... affordable art directly from the artist read more

This was my first time visiting Workhouse and it was for their Red, White, and Boom event. I paid for parking in advance for $35 ($40 at the gate). I also bought wristbands for the kids that were $15/each and allowed for unlimited rides and the gaming truck. We also enjoyed the new mini golf course, which is art themed of course, and that was $12/child. We took advantage of the food trucks and especially liked the kettle korn and paradise ice cream. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to look around at the studios, but I definitely plan to keep an eye out for more events that will bring us back here. read more

See all

Last night, several of my friends and I visited the haunted house. We're a group of moms in our 40s who came to enjoy the experience together. After going through the first section, we entered the second and were about to continue into the final part when an employee unexpectedly stopped us. I was told I needed to leave because I had "touched the talent." This accusation surprised me -- it simply didn't happen. The area was pitch black, and I held onto my friend's arm to stay together, not reaching for or guiding anyone else. Regardless, we didn't want to cause a scene and decided to leave quietly. I wanted to share this because the situation was confusing and disappointing. We were really looking forward to the full experience and left feeling unfairly treated. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

This is a specific review for The Lucy Burns Museum located inside the Workhouse Arts Center. It is small, but FREE and very impactful. Great way to get history on the Suffragist movement, especially the 1917 turning point. Was interactive and information was easy to follow for all ages. read more

See all

History buffs, art lovers, beer lovers, nature lovers, theatre lovers.. you'll all love this place. It's a 50+ acre compound full of rich history and diverse events and activities. They've added a brewery in recent years and appear to be renovating/expanding. There are nearby nature trails alongside the property. The list of things to do here is vast. I've been here a bunch of times over the years and it's cool to see how it's evolved. There is beautiful art for sale at all price points. You can even meet the artists depending on when you visit. It's amazing to see how this space was transformed in recent decades. We're lucky to have this gem in the DMV. read more

This feels like a well kept secret, since I could freely browse many galleries to myself on a Sunday afternoon with little to no competition for foot traffic or viewing angles in galleries and studios, unlike what may happen at a downtown location like Torpedo Arts Factory on a Sunday. The structure seems confusing and closed off at first. No entrances available directly from parking lots other than walkways between buildings to the inner courtyard, where covered walkways and porticos with sandwich boards and little lit open signs in windows invite you to step inside and explore more. There is an organization to it all- by building numbers labeled on white squares with black numbers seen across from the courtyard and on each studio door, but on a first visit, give yourself 1-2hrs to simply explore. I actually came twice in the same weekend. First for a Saturday evening free concert with the Los Teximaniacs under the tent and on the lawn of the courtyard, and then the next day to browse the open galleries and Lucy Burns Museum, which also happened to be another music event for an acoustic duo that was ticketed and happening above one of the larger galleries. It's an easy place to be on a rainy day, wandering in and out of studios for visual sparks and wonderment. It feels embracing of all art levels with a combination of professionals, hobbiests, and students taking classes. A delight to explore! read more

See all

A wonderful theater venue in the DMV! Only frustration is the lack of signage on campus, which made it hard to find the theater. Other than that, extremely cool space! read more

Workhouse Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Lorton, Virginia

Great place to visit. My daughter loved it. We had fun and will go back. We looked at lots of art and talked to several artists.

I love going here for classes! I wished I'd signed up sooner. Ranjit is an amazing instructor. Highly recommend her pottery class! I definitely get my moneys worth with having the class with the instructor, access to open classroom on the day I'm there and any other day that is convenient for me. read more

We went here for the Twisted tails of terror Halloween event. It was so much fun and we'll put together. Worth every penny. I highly recommend. read more

The Workhouse Arts Center is a hidden gem! It brings so much to the community-- classes, events, historic preservation, and the opportunity to pursue many art studios for FREE. With the opening of a small Bunnyman Brewing Cafe, it's truly a great place to go for a variety of interests. In every studio I've entered, I've been met with kindness and, often times, free demos. The greatest part of the Workhouse, in my opinion, is the pottery studio. If you are looking for a place to learn ceramics, this is it. I have been throwing pots for 10+ years, off and on, at different studios while moving around the country and their studio is unparalleled in many ways. The community is welcoming and prioritizing opportunities for education. Their instructors are talented and the studio provides just about everything you could want to use, which is a great value. For military members, they offer a free class per semester, free workshops in various topics and a chance at a competitive residency program. I have learned more at that location than anywhere else and could not be more thankful that I found it. Thank you, Workhouse Arts for all you do and for the amazing pottery studio! read more

I LOVE the Workhouse Arts Center. I started taking pottery classes a year ago and am am hooked for life. The space is phenomenal -- open, light, welcoming. Each class includes a cubby for storing your tools and clay as well as access to Open Studio time to continue creating outside of class. The instructors are talented and folks are incredibly kind, supportive, and generous with their time. It's a wonderful community. I highly recommend signing up for a class - you might find (or rediscover) your next passion! read more

Workhouse Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Lorton, Virginia

As a history nerd, I geek out about places like Workhouse Arts Center. It's a former prison redeveloped into a community for the arts. Here's what you should know before visiting: 1) History: The arts center is part of the 3,2000-acre campus of an early 20th century prison called the D.C. Workhouse and Reformatory. At the time, it opened as a model for prison reform envisioned by President Teddy Roosevelt. Over the years, it become more of a working camp with the last prisoner exiting in 2001 before it closed for good. The campus is being redeveloped into many things, but the Workhouse Arts Center was one of the first to open in the old prison in 2008. 2) Space: It's definitely set up like the old prison with several Colonial Revival brick buildings flank a large green space. Each brick building houses art galleries and centers that offer classes from ceramics to glass blowing. There's also a small museum about the prison's history and plaques outside explaining the history. 3) Art: Several of the buildings have art on them, including several murals throughout the campus. It's fun to find them all, especially the older murals. 4) Events: On top of the art classes, the arts center hosts events throughout the year. For example, during Halloween, they host a haunted house experience. If you're into history and the arts, the Workhouse Arts Center is the perfect marriage! read more

I have taken pottery classes here for years. The teachers are all quite different, but each brings a valuable perspective. The studio is large and well stocked, with a good selection of glazes. The open studio being included with the classes is a huge plus. Just be sure to register for classes early- they fill up quickly! read more

I discovered a welcoming community at the Workhouse Arts Center Ceramics Studio. I have taken many classes from different artists/instructors and have learned so much. Students and artists work together to make this an accepting environment for all ability levels to feel at home. Love this place! read more

Terrific classes. A great community of artists. Teachers , students, and resident artists all collaborate to make a great environment to create. read more

This double row of converted prison system buildings is now used to house artists with multiple media. It's primarily painters, and there are also buildings dedicated to glass, ceramics, jewelry, and other media. Once a month, they host an Arts Walk, staying open later and encouraging attendees to mingle with the artists. Some of the people we spoke to said they might even be resuming putting out some snacks and drinks to encourage people to shmooze. Until then, they seemed very aware of Covid protocols. We only saw one person, an attendee, who was having trouble understanding their rule to stay masked all the time. They also keep the museum open. That's one of the This was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours on a Saturday evening. Afterward, there are plenty of restaurants nearby to grab dinner. We went to the Hometown Bar and Grill and were not as impressed as we hopped. However, your luck there might be better than ours, and there are plenty of other choices for you as well. read more

Such a gem. Signed up for Bread 101 with Chef Kathleen Linton. I rarely go for reviews but it was such a thrilling class to learn so much from an expert. I got lucky because I am an extreme beginner and was surrounded by a class of enthusiasts. Paired up with very accomdating group and took away valuable lessons (albiet forgot the immense amount of lessons..) through the two day course.. in addition to loaves of bread one cannot devour alone. It wasn't until coming home after the blur of the classes and eating even more did I realize how good of a deal it was. Looking forward to returning for classes with kids and friends. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Epic location -- yes; a former prison for DC perps -- restored to an arts center. You can visit an art gallery. See a comedy show. Watch a play/musical!!!! Come Halloween -- it's a haunted house!! Short trip from DC!! Highly recommend!!!! read more

Disappointing, especially for $30/each. May be fine for a high schooler but very basic. More creativity is needed for the roles of the staff along the path. read more

The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia is a great place for a fun date night. We had a great time seeing beautiful artwork and learning how to make healthy hand-crafted cocktails! The 1910 Lorton Prison that was developed to help solve unsanitary conditions of Washington DC Jail & Workhouse is now an impressive art center which is home to over 100 local artists. You can find a huge collection of affordable art here! The Workhouse Arts Center also offers plenty of classes that provide fun date experiences. We took the "Hand-Crafted Mixologist" class and learned how to make Immune Booster Cocktails & Tonics. The class consisted of mostly couples in a friendly environment. We plan to take more classes at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia and hope to see you there! read more

See all

My brother lives in a 55+ community that is also located on the grounds of the former Lorton correctional complex. On a recent visit, he took us to see both the workhouse arts center and the prison museum. The arts center consisted of exhibits and studios housed in the old workhouse buildings, which used to house non-violent prisoners placed there for social crimes (alcoholism, for example). There is pottery, weaving, glasswork and painting on exhibit, and classes are conducted on site. The prison museum includes an excellent (but unrefined) exhibit of prison history...as well as a superb (but also unrefined) exhibit of suffragist activities and history. Much of this history has been suppressed from history books. A separate suffragist museum is planned for 2020, the centennial of women's right to vote. The docent who gave us a tour was excellent. Highly recommend visiting this part of the workhouse complex. read more

Workhouse Art Center is an old prison (where DC used to send its prisoners) that has been turned into an art space. It's a lot like Torpedo Factory or Glen Echo, except in Lorton. We enjoyed poking around and though we didn't buy anything, there was plenty of good work. There are two things that are, perhaps, a bit unique to Workhouse. The first is that the prison has an interesting history as it was where many of the early suffragettes were housed and then force fed. It is also where Chuck Brown picked up his first guitar. There is a small museum that tells the history and a bigger museum should be opened in 2019. The second is they have a fairly nice gallery space that is separate from the studios. When we went there was a really nice exhibit on glass work. They also have an acting studio, a kids studio and a movement studio where classes are offered. read more

I discovered the Workhouse in Lorton after signing up for ballroom dance classes at the Candy Factory in Manassas. After getting some confidence under my belt, I decided to attend the monthly dance offered at the Workhouse with the same teachers. The evening would start with a mini dance lesson of a specific dance (ie Mambo, Foxtrot, Waltz, etc) for about 30 minutes. After that, the music is turned up, the cash bar is open, and appetizers circulate. I very quickly fell in love with this setup. My classes in Manassas were for learning but this monthly event was for getting dolled up in a flowy dress and amazing shoes and twirling around with a loved one. All skill levels are welcome and the experts are a sight to behold. read more

Came here for an art therapy class and stayed for the mural art event. There was a food truck outside that offered gyros, burgers, chicken tenders, fries and a lemonade stand that had fried oreos and funnel cake. Each building have art studios and some artists in there from paintings, to sculptures, to jewelry makers, glass making, showing their talents. Some offer classes to the military/veterans. Great place for the family if you are into art and being in Lorton, I will come more often now that I know what it offers. read more

See all

I do not know if I can truly give this place a fair review since I truly didn't get to experience Workhouse Art Center as much as I experienced the grounds of it where it sits at an old prison site. The Art Center was created 8 years ago and refurbished the prison into what it is today offering classes in art, theatre, yoga, and dance. This was the Lorton Reformatory which was a prison that was used during the Women's Suffrage Movement when they were trying to gain and eventually did gain voting rights for women. Alice Paul one of the suffrage pioneers served time here the longest and was beaten here and force fed due to her hungry strike in 1917. In total about 170 women served time here due to their picketing the White House among one of their many acts. The prison was opened in 1910, discontinued in 2001 and was placed on the NRHP in 2006 and has been an active art center since 2007. The buildings themselves were built brick by brick by the convicts serving here. Instead of them being build with cement; they were built with bricks that were made onsite in a huge kiln that is now outdated and defunct by today's standards. Around the grounds -- you can see the old sports field that prisoners used for recreation, and the watch towers that surround it. The Revolutionary War patriot William Lindsay's former estate house circa 1790 still sits on these grounds called Laurel Hill which eventually gave this area its name. If you come here, make sure to soak up the history of the place and learn about the art center and what it has to offer. That's something I will have to return for. read more

See all

Wow, what a beautiful transformation! Spent the whole afternoon here with the in-laws a few months ago and by the end I was ready to move to Lorton. Each old prison bunkhouse has a different artist theme-- be it ceramics, glass, painting, dance, etc. Then the front of each house has an assorted gallery of things for sale from each artist within, and you can walk down the long hallway and peek into each artist's individual space. I was particularly amazed by the ceramics house-- lots of super nice kilns and beautiful glazes. All I wanted to do was get my hands dirty. Some of the paintings were stunning as well. And the prices were all reasonable. There is also a house with a gift shop, art supply shop, and free apple cider. I know where I'm picking up xmas gifts next year..... read more

Workhouse Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Lorton, Virginia

See all

Love art spaces like this. A former prison (apparently it was where many of the women suffrage demonstrators were sent, and it was actually good for the community until it was mandated that you couldn't force prisoners to work - go to the museum and have the docent give a short talk) that is now a historic site and also an art gallery/studio. There are several (16 or so) houses/galleries and each has a little gallery/shop in the front with someone to greet and guide you if needed, and then about 10 studios that artist rent in each house. Some house have a theme (fiber art, clayworks, kids place), but most seem to have intermixed styles. There is a house where you might catch some glass work being done. There is also the aforementioned museum in one of the houses (it's only one room big). There is a main gallery with a bigger show (current Textiles show is very creative, I've never been interested in textiles until that show), also with a small cafe there too. You might be able to catch an artist at work. Almost all the work displayed is for sale. Personal favorites were Songmi Park and another artist who works with pen in Gallery 5. Similar but not as big are ArtWorks and Plant Zero in Richmond. You have to go through the entrances that face the center grassy area. read more

Im a advocate of fine art , you have to travel to D.C. To see great great because local artist are rocking in Lorton. Workhouse has solidified their contribution to the art community in Eastern NOVA . My first visit was 8 years ago @ second Saturdays and it's gotten better and more busy. A night when the public has a chance to meet and greet local artist and watch art blowing demonstrations. We loved it and supported it by recommending to the community . children are welcomed and seem to enjoy the demos and museum . We made good friends with a few off the artist and listened to there unique entries into art. I brought my Boy Scout troop to be part of a exhibit which was called" we are what we eat " All the Scouts had art on display @ the famous Art Monkey studio!! But it doesn't stop hear, they have meaningful events for the community for fall, July fourfireworks ....Tip: You will not find parking on site for the Larger events. read more

See all

I love this place, everything is so unique and the artists are all so friendly. The buildings and history of the location is also very cool. It's a must visit! read more

It's such a gem of a place. Every building has something beautiful in it. The Drive In movies and Community Market are fun fun fun and a great response to the Corona Virus shutdown. Classes, camps, workshops covering just about every type of art from cooking to movement, clay, glass, and painting/drawing. And the museum is super cool. Going into the prison section is just wild. read more

Horrible place for a venue for a wedding. The customer service is terrible, they don't respond to you after they get your money. The air conditioner does not work, it was 89 degrees for my wedding reception, they didn't check id for folks under 21 and just gave alcohol to anyone. They told us we didn't have to wear masks then after the reception I complained about the air they said we didn't follow their rules and wear masks when Erin was present and told my vendors that they didn't have to wear masks either. They lied and said my vendors left a mess when they checked out before leaving with Erin and she said everything was good. Their employees are not on the same page, horrible communication, horrible customer service and deceitful when confronted. DO NOT USE THIS VENUE FOR ANYTHING! They do not accept responsibility for their rundown building read more

I love the Workhouse. Best place in the area to see local art and theater. I've been taking classes and seeing shows and even performing here for two years now and I am always happy when I show up here! read more

What do you do with a defunct city of DC prison for more serious offenders? You turn it into an artist "colony," obviously. The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center is a fabulous place. Rows of former prison bunkhouses have been converted into sunny, airy, open artist studios. There are hundreds of different DC-area artists housed here, working in all manner of media: pottery, woodturning, acrylic, watercolor, photography, collage, mixed media...you name it, there's a Workhouse artist doing it. You could spend an entire afternoon strolling the beautiful grounds and wandering the buildings. Each building has a front lobby, staffed by a volunteer, where the different artists from that building sell their art. The volunteer receptionist can also answer any questions you might have about the artists or their work. All artists rent their space, and as part of the rental agreement with the Workhouse must actually be in their studio a certain number of hours per week while the Workhouse is open. This is great news for you: this means that on any given day that you visit, you will see artists at work throwing pots, or painting a landscape, or turning a bowl on a lathe. It's really cool to be able to see the artists doing their thing. The Workhouse hosts a lot of special events, too, so check out their website for the monthly calendar. Sometimes they'll throw a wine and cheese, sometimes there will be live music. You can also take classes here, so if you've ever wanted to reenact the hot pottery scene from "Ghost," or try your hand at the art of Chinese calligraphy, you can do it here. The Workhouse Arts Center is a really wonderful place to explore or pick up a special gift for that special someone (including yourself!). You can pick up small items relatively inexpensively, or you can splurge on an oil painting for over your couch. The artists are wonderful and love talking to you about their craft or answering any questions you have. Come out and support the arts and local artists! You will love it here! read more

Each gallery offers something completely different. The range of classes offered covers so many artistic styles. It's truly a great place.

"Lock your door! Roll up the window!", my mother used to yell every time we'd drive past the old Lorton prison when I was a lad. My mother was apparently under the impression that Lorton housed superpowered master criminals who could leap onto moving cars going 45 miles an hour. Growing up a couple miles away I can fondly recall the nights when the searchlights were up, during a jailbreak, and I'd be forbidden from playing flashlight tag lest I have a Pip moment, and be asked to bring a minced meat pie to a convict who threatened to slit my throat otherwise. Today the cell blocks have been transformed into at least a dozen different studios showcasing artists in practically every medium. It brings to mind the torpedo factory in Alexandria, although the art seems more affordable here, generally speaking. I was disappointed that most of the interiors have been stripped of the prison heritage to create the galleries. At present there is a small museum that glorifies the century of penal magic that once glittered on the site. The docent was extremely passionate about the site, and shared many fascinating anecdotes about the history of what was once one of the nation's most progressive jails, before being turned into a dumping ground for victims of the War on Drugs in DC. The museum contains several exhibits, most interesting being the macabre recreation of a suffragette being force fed by rubber tube through the nose in the 1910's. Turns out many of the women who led the fight for women's suffrage were incarcerated at Lorton after being arrested for picketing in DC. The docent explained there were plans to build a much larger museum in one of the dormitories, but funding had not been acquired yet. Leaving the Art Center, turn right on Furnace Rd and go about 3 quarters of a mile to a boarded up old house in a field on the prison grounds. From there you can access the Cross County Trail, which goes directly beneath a classic barrel vault bridge constructed by inmates to carry the jail's personal railroad to and from the river. The bridge is a beauty (see my picture), and only a hundred yards or so from the parking area, if you're not in the mood for a real hike. read more

See all

What a wonderful place to browse numerous forms of art, meet the artists, tour the studios and shops, take classes in the forms that interest you and purchase beautiful pieces. read more

Art 4 u. Ok, that thing on your wall that you light up with a black light while you toke on your water bong is not ART, jack ass. That vinyl stencil you rubbed on your wall from Khols that says some BS about life, love, happiness, woopty doo shit is not ART. That blown glass crab you bought when you were drunk at Ocean City and collects dust on the window mantle in the kitchen....you got it....not ART. Forget this used to be the Lorton Federal Penitentiary and housed some of this countries worst murderers, rapists and robbers. They have been evicted long ago (actually most have probably been turned loose due the Feds sweeping budget cuts). In here is a renovated series of galleries and collections displaying impressive works of art. This is actually more of a cultural center (not like the Wal-Mart cultural super center outside your trailer park). I get that you watch Bob Ross occasionally when skipping between sitcoms while in your La-z-Boy chair at home.........seriously? Go ahead, Wikipedia Bob Ross, you know his fro. Get out of the house come down to this place and educate your self about art in a friendly environment. If you have a hot date and need to prove to your girl that you know more about art than just that framed Scarface picture of Al Pacino hanging at your bachelor pad, bring her down here. Maybe she'll see something more in you than the cheese puff crumbs making modern art on the front of your shirt. Bottom line: Free parking. Eat that Corcoran Gallery in DC! read more

My Wife wishes that we lived near here so she could take some classes and display her work here. It is more relaxing than the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria. Have to come here more often to view and hopefully buy some Art work here. read more

Last night my family and I went to the Workhouse Arts Center Fireworks. I highly recommend the fireworks event but not the VIP tickets. Yelp will not let me do two separate reviews so I am reviewing both here. The one star is for the VIP tickets, I would give zero if I could. First my review of the fireworks themselves, they get four stars. The reason they do not get five stars is because the fireworks are not choreographed to music, otherwise a spectacular show. Easy location to get to, plenty of great viewing areas, and lots of food trunks to get dinner or bring your own in a cooler. They also have entertainment on the main lawn. You can pay $20.00 to park onsite or just park for free along Ox Road. My review of the VIP tickets receives zero stars. The VIP tickets cost $75.00 and I DO NOT recommend getting them, they are a huge rip off. According to the Workhouse website the tickets get you access to their air conditioned VIP lounge, premium parking, a buffet by Outback Steakhouse, 2 drink tickets, special concert by a local artist, and special VIP-only seating area to view the fireworks show. The good part of the tickets was the parking, the air conditioned lounge, 2 drink tickets, and no line for a clean bathroom. Reserved parking means you can get there anytime you want and you have easy access to Ox Road after the show is over. The bad was they oversold the event. There were not enough tables in the VIP lounge for everyone who bought tickets. The event started at 5 pm, we got there at 6:30 pm and ALL of the tables in the VIP lounge were already taken. I asked the staff about this and was told there was overflow seating downstairs. Upstairs was very nicely arranged, they had large tables decorated with pretty tablecloths and music being played by a live band with a great local artist singing. Downstairs was dismal. The tables were small, no tablecloths, and there was no entertainment. Everyone upstairs sitting at a table looked happy and relaxed, most people downstairs looked slightly annoyed. The ugly. THEY RAN OUT OF FOOD! Yes, can you believe it? For $75.00 you expect to be fed and fed well. It's a buffet so most people are going to come hungry. We were lucky because we were one of the first people in line. Since we did not feel comfortable in the downstairs overflow area we just waited upstairs and listened to the band. Since we had to stand anyway we decided to stand next to the buffet area so we were able to get food without a long wait and the wait for many ended up being very, very long. Outback Steakhouse did not appear to have enough food on the buffet table so my husband specifically asked if they had more food available. He was told more food would be freshly made as needed. Unfortunately, they must have underestimated how much food they would need because they ran out of ribs about 20 minutes in. One of our friends was told more was being made and he had to wait about 30 minutes before more were brought in. At this point they started rationing the ribs, instead of being a buffet, one of the servers gave you your portion of ribs. When asked why she was doing this, she stated they were running really short of food. And at this point not even half of the VIP guests had been served. In addition, Outback should have organized the food distribution better. For such a large group at least two buffet lines should have been set up, one on each side of the room. This would have helped alleviate the long lines, that and having enough food prepared for service. They did end up running completely out of ribs and mashed potatoes. My other complaint is the lack of Bloomin' Onion. It's Outback Steakhouse's signature dish so I did expect it to be on the buffet. I checked and Bloomin' Onion is offered as an option when Outback Steakhouse does catering. What the buffet did have was steak, chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, salad, and mixed vegetables, although not everyone was lucky enough to get the ribs and mashed potatoes. More ugly. The special VIP-only seating area to view the fireworks show was a joke. Nothing special about it, my husband and son ended up viewing the fireworks with some friends of ours who had arrived about 730 pm and claimed a spot on the hill next to the old Warden's house. Their view was better than the special VIP-only seating area view, which was partially blocked by trees, and their view was free. Summary: Definitely go and see the fireworks, park on Ox Road, bring your lawn chairs and take your pick of all of the great free viewing areas available. Bring your own food or purchase food from one of the many food trucks onsite. Skip the VIP tickets, purchasing those would be a very costly mistake. read more