About Us

ABOUT the ARTS OF GREAT FALLS

The Arts of Great Falls (AGF) is dedicated to fostering an artful community by

promoting and supporting the fine arts in Great Falls and beyond. Located in the charming Village Centre, AGF is home to a vibrant art school that draws students from across the

DC metro area, offering classes for children, teens and adults of all skill levels—

from beginners to experienced artists.

We provide gallery space for local artists to showcase their work and lease affordable studio space to 12 resident artists in our Atelier and Loft studios. AGF also hosts inspiring community events throughout the year, including 1st Friday Art Walks, the annual Paint Great Falls plein air competition, and weekly open studios.

OUR MISSION:

Our mission is simple: to support the arts and create a thriving, creative community.

To support the arts and enable artists for the betterment of the community

with the goal of enhancing Great Falls, Virginia as an artful place.

OUR VISION:

Great Falls is recognized as an artful community.

PRACTICES and METHODS to ACHIEVE OUR MISSION & VISION:

Promote, empower, and enable artists of all ages and abilities, and provide

opportunities to grow through art classes, workshops, and lectures.

Promote all of the arts in Great Falls, Virginia, including visual, performance,

music and literature, for the betterment of the community.

Honor individual artists, including student artists, and their works

through awards, display space, and public recognition.

Sublet working studio spaces to artists at affordable cost.

Create an environment where people love to visit, work, relate to others, and learn.

Work collaboratively with other community organizations to achieve the above goals.

Meet the Team

The Arts of Great Falls Foundation has two part-time staff people running all operations.

Executive Director

Julie Casso

Julie has a long history with The Arts of Great Falls. She was the founding Executive Director for over 12 years developing programs, events and the art school. In 2022, she moved on to help another local nonprofit. Then returned to the role in May 2026. A 30+ year resident of Great Falls, she has always been in the community and operating in many volunteer roles as well.

Contact Julie through email at
julie@artsofgreatfalls.org

Art School Director

Kate Flannery

Kate serves as the Art School Director for The Arts of Great Falls Foundation, bringing a unique and multifaceted perspective to the community. A lifelong, self-taught artist, Kate deeply believes that art is an accessible, evolving practice of discovery open to everyone. Her artistic passion is uniquely complemented by her background as a physicist and educator, allowing her to view creativity through a lens of both structured inquiry and boundless imagination. Under her leadership, the Art School continues to be an inclusive, inspiring environment where artists of all levels are encouraged to experiment, learn, and connect with fine arts.

kate@artsofgreatfalls.org