Community:

 

Noun:

1. A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

2. A particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants

3. The condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common

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   The Oak Ridge Art Center is often considered a community within a community. The city of Oak Ridge has a unique heritage with its founding as a science community during WWII. The isolation required to keep the activities of "The Secret City" secret was tempered by the introduction of strong cultural institutions that have not only survived but thrive to this day.  Oak Ridge has live theater, a professional orchestra, ballet, community band and orchestra, history museum and much more. Of course, let's not forget a remarkable fine arts center and museum! This community has integrated cultural arts from the very beginning, and it has permeated the lives of at least four generations of Oak Ridge residents. Yet, the Art Center's community has extended well beyond our city limits. Our weekly classes draw students from Crossville to Chattanooga to Knoxville and beyond. 72% of our students come from outside of Anderson County, as does 48% of our general membership. The distribution of our community might be broad, but the collective goal is laser focused- to provide an educational, creative and rewarding art experience for all who visit.