Arts in the Burg Revitalizes South Pittsburg, Bringing Art and Entertainment to the Community

An arts and entertainment studio space called Arts in the Burg recently opened to the public where visitors, entertainers, art exhibitors, and vendors can come together and celebrate art and community in South Pittsburg.

Director of Arts in the Burg, Dale Woodfin, compares the experience of seeing Arts in the Burg in South Pittsburg with the experience of seeing the taffy machine in Gatlinburg. 

“You’re in downtown Gatlinburg, walking down the street and when you see the taffy being made with the taffy machine in the window, you want to go in and watch it being made. That’s what Arts in the Burg is,” Woodfin said. 

The space allows working artists to practice their art in an open studio space designed to draw in the community. Inside, visitors will find art exhibits, working artists, and a pottery studio. Outside the building, there are spaces for food trucks, and stages for live entertainment.

Woodfin strategically chose Marion County as the destination for this project. South Pittsburg is a town with rich history and southern charm, located on the banks of the Tennessee River. However, the town has seen a decrease in business over the years, resulting in several vacant buildings. Woodfin saw this as an opportunity to create an art district that brings in tourists and businesses to the area. 

When Woodfin came back to South Pittsburg after visiting vibrant, arts-focused cities like Savannah, Georgia and Nashville, he was inspired to better the community. He also noticed South Pittsburg Area Revitalization Quest’s similar mission to create long-lasting improvements in the community.

“It (South Pittsburg) has such good bones,” Woodfin said. “It’s a quaint little town, but there is not much to do. It has a lot of opportunities to make things work.”

Both tourists and locals can get involved with the space by observing artists, attending classes and events, or displaying their own art in the studio. The working artist studios are available for people to watch or participate in a wide variety of art including blacksmithing, painting, fashion, woodworking, graphic design, culinary arts, and more. 

The community is also focusing on bringing art to the community through murals. The first community mural, inspired by the community’s favorite features of South Pittsburg, was painted in an alley near Arts in the Burg. 

“We had a Zoom meeting with about 50 people where we asked about people’s favorite features of South Pittsburg,” Woodfin said. “We asked questions like, ‘If South Pittsburg were an animal, what would it be?’”

Based on the answers, local muralist Ivan Roque created two sketches, and the community voted on a design that is now a 25 foot tall and 98 foot wide mural in an alleyway near Arts in the Burg. The goal is to eventually have an alley with several murals to bring the community together creatively.  

Arts in the Burg creates an environment that allows people to feel things together and uniquely express themselves. The focus on art is purposeful because people can see the same piece of art, but interpret it differently, while still being comfortable with each other. 

“This space is important because art is important,” Woodfin said. “Art is often overlooked. If it were not for groups like Tennessee Arts Commission, ArtsBuild, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Thrive Partnerships, and Southeastern Development, you would have a lot less art.”

Arts in the Burg has a way for everyone to get involved regardless of their artistic abilities. Connect with the organization by embracing the activities, liking the Facebook page, and sharing its posts. 
To learn more about Arts in the Burg and how to get involved, please visit https://artsintheburg.com.