Gallery 5

Gallery 5 (originally, The Virginia Fire and Police Museum and Steamer Company No. 5) is a gallery, museum, and venue in Richmond, VA. It is located at 200 West Marshall Street in Richmond, VA, and is housed in what was the oldest firehouse in Virginia. Its Founding Executive Director is Amanda Robinson Khodabandeh.

From their website:

"Gallery5 is a community oriented, socially aware art gallery and performing art center located in Historic Jackson Ward. Gallery5 opened its doors on April 15, 2005, in an effort to save the life of the National Historic Landmark known as Steamer Company No. 5. Our mission is to transcend the artistic boundaries in our community, by providing a unique visual and performing arts center, open to ideas and artists that provoke positive social action and innovative art expression. Through interactive arts, unconventional exhibitions or educational outreach programs, we encourage patrons of all demographics to engage in this creative energy and use it to strengthen the community that surrounds us. Although our website includes most of Gallery5's previous activities, events and exhibits, it does not tell the entire story... Gallery5 is housed in Virginia's oldest fire station and Richmond's oldest police station and jail. Built in 1849, this National Historic Landmark, and the men who worked within, added many colorful chapters to Richmond's illustrious past. In the first opening months, Gallery5 had transformed this beautiful relic from the past into a vibrant and exciting cacophony of sight and sound, hosting more visitors over the first few months than during the entire 25 years of the former museum's operation. During the "First Fridays Art Walks" Gallery5 attracts, by far, the largest and most diverse, enthusiastic crowds. The visitors are treated to a "carnival" of art, not just a display. The brass poles and fire bells, horse and hand-drawn apparatus, jail cells and gallows hauntingly juxtapose with the contemporary and traditional art exhibited. While various bands, DJ's, and individual musicians provide the sounds for the evening, fire performers, dancers and film add to the sights. Every "First Fridays", Gallery5's visitors are treated to an entirely different, theme art event. Each and every month thousands of visitors pass through the 158 year old front doors and enter a world of the unexpected."

External links

* [http://www.gallery5arts.com website]