OUR HISTORY

In the late ‘40s, Brevard’s growing Catholic population necessitated the building of the community’s first Catholic church. Sacred Heart Catholic Church was constructed on this site in 1949, and according to Sacred Heart’s website, “The total cost of the building was $36,000.” - https://sacredheartbrevard.org/about/history

Traces of the venue’s original use still remain in our present Arts Council space. The room currently in use as our Gallery was the church’s sanctuary. The former site of the church's round stained glass window can be seen in the loft, above the spiral staircase. Adjacent to our executive director’s office, there is still a full bathroom (shower included), which would have constituted the priest’s quarters. Community residents recall attending catechism classes in the third floor room, which is now our bookkeeper’s office.

Sacred Heart occupied this space until the congregation moved into their current location on the Asheville Highway in November 1988. Ten years later, in June of 1998, the Arts Council purchased this building, then called the Community Arts Center, and renovated it to provide gallery and classroom space.

Over the years, the Gallery has undergone many updates, including the addition of a ceramics studio to the downstairs classroom space.