The adaptive reuse of a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse in the Historic Congaree Vista, and its renewal as CMFA ArtSpace, broadened the CMFA’s impact on the arts in the community, refocusing attention on the arts as magnets for area renewal and tourism. Civic arts groups thrive with shared administrative support and resources.  In a single season, it is documented that over 8,000 people used CMFA ArtSpace with programs ranging from classical music and dance to West African drummers and liturgical dance to week long educational workshops, Broadway, theatre, hip-hop and jazz of all kinds.

The South Carolina Arts Alliance held  a statewide three-day conference on the arts at  CMFA ArtSpace spotlighting this facility to arts professionals from throughout the state as well as to guests from the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC, and the Southern Arts Federation in Atlanta, Georgia. The regional showcase at CMFA ArtSpace introduced artists on the SC Arts Commission's Artist Roster to a new venue in Columbia. Artists from throughout the region attended this conference and performed as a part of the adjudication process. They experienced first-hand the adaptability of the space when it was used for the closing reception the following day.

Columbia Music Festival Association is a vital part of the Columbia Arts Community. Through  CMFA, its family of affiliates and CMFA ArtSpace... the ARTS have become a destination on the visitor's map.

For more information about the ArtSpace contact cmfaartspace@gmail.com.