Today we’re in a studio in a school on an island in a river by a town that is world famous for its artistic flair. It’s a destination with quite a story to tell… in just about every media you can imagine.

Welcome to Marshall High Studios. Located on Blannahassett Island in the middle of the French Broad River in the town of Marshall, this place was built in 1925 as the high school in the seat of Madison County. And for nearly 50 years, it stayed just that. But in the early 1970’s, school let out here for the last time.

Over the decades, this building’s fate was a bit up in the air here on this bit of land surrounded by water. But with its soaring ceilings, hardwood floors, and massive windows, some saw this as the perfect place for a suite of artists’ studios. And today, it’s just that.

Marshall High Studios houses two floors of 26 independent studios. Inside the building are artists who span the entire palette of creativity. Watching their art come to life is inspiring – and joining in on one of their Community Make Space sessions is a ton of fun.

The grand auditorium in Marshall High Studios is available to rent for events like weddings, benefits, and concerts. You can also rent studio space here and be surrounded by working artists making amazing things every day.

Artists like Jenny Ellis and The Artful Chair, where beautifully upholstered masterpieces come to life.

And Lauren Rutten, working with her photography and gold leaf to tell the story of Marshall and Helene.

One thing that’s important to note is that each of these artists maintains open hours independently, so check out the site and reach out before you go.

One of the really cool things here is that tenants often enjoy sharing their expertise and perspective, resulting in a rich sense of community. That feeling of art and artistry is definitely alive and well here at Marshall High Studios.

And that was no guarantee. The flooding from Helene nearly destroyed this place.

But today it’s back – ready and waiting for you.