Hub on Canal

Passion and vision drive success. In the spring of 2010, a small group of friends and artists in New Smyrna Beach envisioned a stronger, more sustainable community created through the sharing of art. They dreamed of a central hub of artists who would make, showcase and teach art in a communal space, a welcoming place to gather. This central hub would act as the core support for the many spokes that would reach out to the community. The founders imagined spokes of collaboration, discovery, expression, and revitalization through art, music and wellness. They understood that virtually all social impact studies find positive neighborhood effects associated with community arts and culture.

The hub of art community defined The Hub on Canal's central vision: Art - Creating - Community. With hard work and dedication from a core team, the founders' bold dream came true in 2012. Early assistance from Volusia County and the City of New Smyrna Beach through a Community Redevelopment Grant allowed The Hub on Canal to grow enabling us to purchase our home in 2015: Two historic buildings located in the heart of New Smyrna Beach. Currently, workshop and studio spaces continue to be rented at capacity and art is everywhere. The Hub on Canal houses close to 80 working artists, more than double the number in 2012. The Hub now offers at least 20 classes per week and schedules dozens of workshops annually.

In addition, The Hub on Canal presents monthly music and special performance events. The Hub on Canal has welcomed more than 154,000 visitors in its first four years, and it continues to grow. A strong corps of enthusiastic volunteers continues to support The Hub's mission. The critical volunteer efforts, the large number of visitors, artists, musicians, teachers, students, and members all represent deep support and ongoing commitment from the community. The Hub's goal is to give back to this same community. Outreach is underway through popular initiatives in the local schools, inviting students to display and sell their artwork and through the many afterschool programs. Additional programming efforts have been designed to meet the needs of organizations like the Veterans and Alzheimer's organizations.

The Hub on Canal has also served as an economic catalyst. A number of new businesses have opened in close proximity to The Hub. All downtown restaurants and retail businesses are positively effected by the presence and the traffic at The Hub on Canal. Today, The Hub on Canal's most urgent goal is to build a supportive foundation to ensure that it continues to thrive and grow in future years. This financial security will allow The Hub to enhance its offerings for the community and our visitors, expanding the arts to all parts of our community. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.