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Who We Are:
The Mountain Arts Community Center is a department of the Town of Signal Mountain and is located in the Historic Signal Mountain Elementary School. The mission of the MACC is, “to provide and facilitate artistic, cultural, civic, and educational activities that foster personal growth and benefit the community." Since 1999, the MACC has served that mission and the Town of SIgnal Mountain's citizenry by providing a variety of arts related classes for both children and adults; by providing a venue for arts related performances, art exhibitions and various community activities; by serving as a meeting place for numerous community organizations; and by serving as an historic facility preserving and promoting the heritage of the Signal Mountain and Walden’s Ridge community. The MACC is led by a full-time director and dedicated part-time staff with an engaged advisory board composed of seven members, five of whom must be citizens of the Town of Signal Mountain. The Board holds regular monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of each month. |
MACC's History:
The Historic Signal Mountain Grammar School was constructed in 1926 of native rock harvested from the south face of the mountain during the construction of Signal Mountain Road. This was the first building for public use in Signal Mountain and served both as the school and as a meeting space for various civic groups. The design of the original building is a unique V shape with a triple-arch entrance at the apex of the V. The arms of the V form the hallways with a 240 seat auditorium located between the two hallways and classrooms along the outside of the V. The building is one of the oldest remaining school buildings in Hamilton County still in public use. The building operated as a public school from 1926 until 1999, when Hamilton County Department of Education scheduled it for closure. Rather than see this wonderful old building abandoned, a group of concerned citizens asked the Signal Mountain Town Council about renting the property for use as an arts center. In the fall of 1999 the Town began renting the property and the Mountain Arts Community Center was born. The rental arrangement lasted ten years, during which the MACC grew in service and importance to the community. Through the efforts of MACC’s first director, Karen Shropshire, the building was placed on the National Historic Register in 2001 and finally, in 2009 the building was gifted to the Town of Signal Mountain by the Hamilton County Department of Education. |
Today’s MACC:
Since 2009, the Town of Signal Mountain has made great strides to restore the building and increase the creative arts classes and other offerings. The MACC currently averages 300 registered students per session of classes and is the meeting place for the Signal Mountain Lion’s Club, the Iris Society, the Garden Club of Signal Mountain, the Evening Garden Club, and the Mountain Gardeners. High school students also use the MACC for Mock Trials and theater group rehearsals. MACC is home to the Skwalking Heads Theater group and the Tennessee Center for Puppetry Arts. Each year it hosts puppetry performances as well as the Signal Mountain Playhouse winter theatrical performance. MACC also regularly hosts art exhibitions, a wide variety of musical performances, and the annual
Signal Mountain Tree Lighting ceremony.
The MACC offers classes for both young and old in a wide variety of areas. All of our instructors are excellent and most have Masters Degrees in their field. Please see our class schedule page for more information.
Since 2009, the Town of Signal Mountain has made great strides to restore the building and increase the creative arts classes and other offerings. The MACC currently averages 300 registered students per session of classes and is the meeting place for the Signal Mountain Lion’s Club, the Iris Society, the Garden Club of Signal Mountain, the Evening Garden Club, and the Mountain Gardeners. High school students also use the MACC for Mock Trials and theater group rehearsals. MACC is home to the Skwalking Heads Theater group and the Tennessee Center for Puppetry Arts. Each year it hosts puppetry performances as well as the Signal Mountain Playhouse winter theatrical performance. MACC also regularly hosts art exhibitions, a wide variety of musical performances, and the annual
Signal Mountain Tree Lighting ceremony.
The MACC offers classes for both young and old in a wide variety of areas. All of our instructors are excellent and most have Masters Degrees in their field. Please see our class schedule page for more information.
