The University of Memphis’ College of Communication and Fine Arts will kick off its Central Avenue Arts Corridor development project with an afternoon celebration for the launch of the Central to the Arts Hub on Saturday, October 5.

“This will be a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our students and also to give the wider Memphis community an early glimpse at renderings of the forthcoming Scheidt Family Music Center, which is currently slated to open in spring of 2021,” said Dr. Anne Hogan, Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts.

The former Visitor Information Building at the corner Patterson Street and Central Avenue will be transformed into a gateway to the UofM art scene and grant student artists an ongoing opportunity to display their work year-round in a pop-up gallery format following the opening festivities. In addition, the Arts Hub will host information regarding the programs and events of the College of Communication and Fine Arts.

The Central to the Arts Hub will be unveiled as part of a half-day of celebration, which will take place from noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature live music from students in the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and stage combat demonstrations from the Theatre & Dance Department. The Central to the Arts Hub’s opening event will also play host to several local high school and middle school students who have been invited to contribute to various artistic activities.

“This project is significant in terms of giving our students entrepreneurial experience and an opportunity to sell their work while considering creative production and how it fits into the local economy,” said Richard Lou, Chair of the Department of Art at UofM. “It will also serve as a visual marker that the visitor is entering a creative cultural landscape that encompasses everything related to the visual arts, film, theatre, dance and music.”

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase, including coffee from Belltower Artisans coffee shop, a small business owned by two current UofM students.

The Central to the Arts Hub is a part of a larger UofM branding effort to solidify Central Avenue’s status as a highly productive and thriving center for creative endeavors.