The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen: Arts, History & Entertainment Close to Home
From live performances and rotating art exhibits to classes and more than a century of local history, this Mountain Road landmark is one of Glen Allen's cultural gems.
Discovering the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
When you think about seeing a live show, visiting an art gallery, or taking an art class in the Richmond area, Downtown Richmond may be the first place that comes to mind.
But Glen Allen has an arts destination of its own — and it's housed inside a building that has been part of the community for more than a century.
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, located at 2880 Mountain Road, brings together live music, theater, dance, art exhibitions, classes, special events, and community programs under one roof.
And while the programming alone makes the Center worth discovering, the history behind the building makes it even more interesting.
The Cultural Arts Center at a Glance
FeatureInformationLocation2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060Attraction TypePerforming arts, visual arts & cultural centerBuilding HistoryFormer Glen Allen SchoolOpened as Arts Center1999Facility SizeApproximately 50,300 square feetTheater350-seat theaterArt GalleriesFour primary gallery spacesOther HighlightsArt classes, special events, gift shop & community programsGeneral AdmissionFree; ticketed performances and paid classes varyBest ForLive entertainment, art lovers, date nights, families & creative activities
From Glen Allen School to Cultural Arts Center
Part of what makes the Cultural Arts Center special is the building itself.
The story of Glen Allen School began in 1886, when Elizabeth Jane Holladay began teaching children in her home.
The school later moved to a one-room building on Mountain Road before relocating again in 1911. The building at the current Cultural Arts Center site was constructed that year at a cost of $10,000.
It was a very different school from what we know today — the original building didn't even have central heating or indoor plumbing.
As the community grew, so did the school.
Additional wings were constructed between 1914 and 1925, and an auditorium/gymnasium and home economics cottage were added during the 1930s.
The school continued operating at the site until 1978.
More than two decades later, the historic property was given an entirely new purpose.
In 1999, the former Glen Allen School reopened as The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.
Instead of tearing down an important piece of Glen Allen's history, the community transformed it into a place that could continue bringing people together.
A Home for the Performing Arts
One of the Center's biggest attractions is its live entertainment.
The facility includes a 350-seat theater that hosts performances throughout the year.
Programming can include:
Live music
Theater productions
Musicals
Dance performances
Comedy
Touring performers
Special productions
Community performances
The Center presents its own performance season while also working with local and regional arts organizations that use the facility.
That creates an interesting mix.
One visit might be for a concert. Another could be a play or musical. The next might feature dance, comedy, or a completely different type of performance.
For Glen Allen residents, it means enjoying live entertainment without necessarily having to head downtown.
Four Art Galleries — With Free Admission
You don't need a performance ticket to enjoy the Cultural Arts Center.
The Center is home to four primary art galleries located on the first floor:
Gumenick Family Gallery
Slantwall Gallery
Midway Gallery
Glass Door Gallery
The galleries feature changing exhibitions from local, regional, and international artists.
Exhibitions rotate throughout the year, which means the artwork you see during one visit may be completely different a few months later.
The Center also periodically presents additional exhibitions on its second floor featuring work created by instructors, students, and patrons.
And one of the best parts?
Admission to the galleries is free.
That makes it easy to stop by simply to see what's currently on display without turning the visit into a major outing.
You Can Make Art Here, Too
The Cultural Arts Center isn't only a place to watch other people perform or create.
You can participate yourself.
The Center offers classes and workshops covering a wide variety of creative disciplines.
Depending on the current schedule, offerings may include:
Ceramics
Watercolor
Painting
Photography
Jewelry design
Fiber arts
3D design
Youth art
Teen programs
Family workshops
Classes are offered for different ages and experience levels, so you don't necessarily need an artistic background before signing up.
It's another aspect of the Center that can be easy to overlook.
This isn't simply a theater with an art gallery attached. It's also a place where members of the community can actually learn and create.
Art Night and Special Events
Throughout the year, the Center hosts events that offer another way to experience the facility.
One example is Art Night, when new exhibitions are introduced and visitors have an opportunity to meet artists, explore the galleries, and enjoy an evening centered around the arts.
The Center also hosts special events, seasonal programming, community activities, and its annual tree lighting.
Because exhibitions, performances, and special events continually change, two visits to the Cultural Arts Center can offer completely different experiences.
Don't Miss the Gift Shop
There's another small feature inside the Center that's worth exploring even if you aren't attending a show.
The Atack Family Gift Shop features artwork, handcrafted items, jewelry, prints, accessories, and other pieces, including work from artists.
It's a nice alternative when you're looking for something a little different from what you'll find at a typical retail store — and another example of how the Center supports the arts beyond its theater and galleries.
More Than an Entertainment Venue
What I particularly like about the Cultural Arts Center is that it doesn't fit neatly into one category.
It's a theater.
It's an art gallery.
It's an educational facility.
It's a historic property.
It's an event venue.
And it's a community gathering place.
That combination is what makes it different from simply driving somewhere to see a show and then going home.
You might come for a performance and discover an exhibition in the hallway. You might visit an art exhibit and learn about a class you want to take. Or you might walk through the building and realize that you're standing inside what was once Glen Allen's community school.
Part of Glen Allen's Historic Mountain Road Corridor
The Cultural Arts Center becomes even more interesting when you consider where it's located.
Mountain Road represents an older side of Glen Allen that can sometimes be overshadowed by newer development elsewhere in the area.
The Cultural Arts Center sits along this historic corridor only a short distance from other Glen Allen landmarks and attractions, including Walkerton Tavern and Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park.
That makes it possible to explore several very different pieces of Glen Allen's history and culture without traveling very far.
And it's one of the reasons we'll be returning to Mountain Road several times during this series.
There's much more here than many people realize.
Why the Cultural Arts Center Is Worth Discovering
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is exactly the kind of place this series is intended to highlight.
It's not hidden.
Thousands of people attend events here.
But it's also easy to live in the Richmond area and forget just how much is happening inside this historic building.
You can see professional entertainment, browse an art exhibition for free, take a class, shop for locally connected artwork, attend a special event, or simply explore a building that has served the Glen Allen community in one form or another for generations.
You don't always have to travel into Richmond to find arts, culture, and entertainment.
Sometimes it's right here in Glen Allen.
Planning a Visit
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
2880 Mountain Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
General admission to the Cultural Arts Center and its galleries is free.
Performances, classes, workshops, and certain special events may require tickets or registration.
Hours, exhibitions, performances, and class schedules change throughout the year, so check the Cultural Arts Center's current calendar before planning your visit.
Discover Another Side of Glen Allen
Places like the Cultural Arts Center help tell a broader story about what it's actually like to live in Glen Allen.
The area isn't defined solely by its subdivisions, shopping centers, or proximity to Richmond.
It also has history, arts, parks, community traditions, and local destinations that have developed their own identity over time.
The Cultural Arts Center captures several of those things in one place — preserving a piece of Glen Allen's past while giving it a purpose in the community today.
And that's exactly the kind of local attraction that's worth knowing about, whether you've lived here for decades or you're just beginning to explore the area.
Thinking About Moving to Glen Allen?
If you're considering a move to Glen Allen, exploring local places like the Cultural Arts Center can help you understand the community beyond what you'll see in a real estate listing.
Glen Allen offers a wide variety of neighborhoods, parks, recreation, shopping, history, arts, and local attractions — and different parts of the area can provide very different lifestyles.
As a local REALTOR® with Long & Foster Real Estate, I help buyers and sellers navigate Glen Allen and the surrounding Richmond communities with local knowledge, market insight, and personalized service.
If you'd like to learn more about living in Glen Allen, explore its different neighborhoods, or discuss buying or selling a home in the Richmond area, I'd be happy to help.
Matthew Cooper, REALTOR®
Long & Foster Real Estate – Grove Ave Office
Serving Glen Allen, Henrico County, and the Greater Richmond Region
