Round Hill Arts Center

Round Hill Arts Center
6 West Loudoun Street
PO Box 3
Round Hill, VA 20142

Email: info@roundhillartscenter.org

Hours of Operation
(Gallery & Office):
Wed.-Friday:
10AM-5:00PM
Saturday: 11AM-5PM

Tel: 540-338-5050
Fax: 540-338-9745

About the Round Hill Arts Center:

Mission | Goals | History | Membership

Our Philosophy:

We at the Round Hill Arts Center (RHAC) believe that the creative process expands the mind and provides a unique vehicle for expression while bringing joy and a sense of well-being to the participant. Round Hill Arts Center is community-based, encouraging participation in the arts for the benefit of the entire community of western Loudoun. We also seek to foster an understanding of the many ways in which art is present in our lives - from paintings and drawings to furniture and textiles. In short, we are about getting people into art!

For news on art shows and artists' opportunities, check out the In the Gallery page.
For directions on how to reach RHAC, see directions.
For information on building rental options, visit Rental Information.

Our Mission:

• Foster appreciation for fine arts and traditional crafts in Loudoun County
• Encourage participation through educational programming for children and adults
• Offer opportunities for artists to develop their creative and professional skills
• Preserve the historic use of the Old Furniture Factory; and
• Respond to the arts-related interests and needs of the Round Hill Community.

Our Goals:

As a community based arts center, our goal is to encourage both amateurs and professionals to continually explore and expand the products of their creativity. RHAC seeks to blur the line which, in the mind of the individual, often separates fine crafts (or "folk arts"), such as woodworking, basketry, weaving, and blacksmithing, from the fine arts: painting, photography, drawing, printmaking and sculpture. To that end, our programs and gallery encourage the juxtaposition of elements of the craft and fine arts traditions, thereby challenging the participant to examine the nature of each as a true art form.

Artists and community members are the backbone of the Center, producing work to be displayed in the Center gallery, witnessing the creative process through exhibits, and participating in events and classes. Your participation in RHAC, whether as a teacher or student, volunteer or patron, ensures that we acheive our mission.

RHAC is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts. We are incorporated in VA as a non-profit, and recognized as federally tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3).

History of the Old Furniture Factory

RHAC holds a long-term lease on the Old Furniture Factory; a historic structure built in the late 1880's as the Howell Brothers Furniture Emporium. Located in the heart of town, the building has housed among other things a prohibition era speak-easy, two general stores, a tin shop and a number of woodworking enterprises.

Sometime around 1910 the old Round Hill School, which was located across the street on the site of the present day Methodist Parsonage, burned down. While the new school was being built on High Street, the Old Furniture Factory served as a temporary schoolhouse from 1911-1912.

Originally, the building consisted of a smaller two-story post-and-beam structure occupying about one third of the current floor plan. A photograph taken in the early 1900's shows the rear of the building with its original gable roof.

Later additions expanded both the first and second floors, replacing the gable roof with today's shed roof. A stable or carriage house once stood in the rear of the lot. Though this building no longer stands, evidence of its foundation can be seen.

RHAC may someday conduct archaeological research to determine what historical information exists there. A walk around the building reveals an interesting variety of construction materials and renovations, including the installation of a large stained glass window in the façade. Though the origin of this window is unknown, it is likely to have come from a church and appears to be and example of excellent craftsmanship.

In recognition of RHAC's combined efforts to preserve the Old Furniture Factory and to bring economic development to Round Hill, the renovation of the building has been selected as a pilot project for County's Main Street Loudoun (www.mainstreetloudoun.org) program (MSL). This program will assist the towns and villages of Loudoun to develop a vision for the revitalization of their historic districts.

For information on building rental options, visit Rental Information.