The Town of Marion, Virginia welcomes you to our Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts. The Henderson School is named for Wayne C. Henderson, a world-renowned guitar instrumentalist and luthier from nearby Rugby, Virginia. Wayne has become an international ambassador for the music, heritage and culture of our Southern Appalachian region.
The Henderson School is situated on the highest point in Historic Downtown Marion, Virginia; a three-story brick structure known as the “1908 Schoolhouse”.
The School is committed to providing educational programs that assist in preserving and promoting Southwest Virginia’s music, art, and crafts heritage. The Henderson School encourages creative development in individuals that wish to embrace traditional as well as contemporary approaches to their respective crafts. This, combined with the desire to understand the materials, tools and techniques of their craft promotes activities for self-expression, conceptual exploration and aesthetic innovation.
Our purpose is to be a gathering place where people with varying interests are given a chance for artistic fellowship, through music, song, dance, art, nature, gardening, cooking, storytelling, writing, and much more!