In the early 1980’s, a group of Concord volunteers and visionaries realized that the aging Emerson School building, slated for demolition, could be saved and converted into a community arts center. Built as a high school in 1929 and the town’s first steel-beamed structure, Emerson School has long been an important historic and architectural landmark in downtown Concord.

So, in 1982, The Umbrella’s founders obtained tax-exempt status as a private non-profit organization and developed a detailed multi-use proposal for the building, which the Board of Selectmen approved in 1983. This agreement retains the spirit of the original deed, which states that the land will be used for education, and is still in place today. The Town of Concord retains ownership of the building, which it leases to The Umbrella Arts Center, which in turn is responsible for programming, operating, building maintenance, and capital improvement costs.

Today, the Umbrella enriches lives and builds a vibrant and inclusive community through the arts, promoting creativity, learning, personal growth, and cultural exchange through accessible arts education programs, performing and visual arts presentations, and community collaborations.

The Umbrella Arts Center offers studio space for more than 50 artists; exhibition space in three gallery spaces; community arts initiatives, outdoor art installations, and regional celebrations; classes and workshops for children and adults; creative arts summer camps and vacation week programs for youth; support for innovative learning and making in three newly constructed Makerspace labs; performance space for all disciplines in two theaters; space rentals for private events; and newly renovated Ceramics facilities.