Visiting the Central School Project (CSP) in Bisbee is a much more casual, community-driven experience than a high-security museum, but it still requires some planning to catch the best it has to offer.
The Mission
Central School Project is a non-profit arts and cultural center with the three-fold mission of providing affordable studio space to working artists, preserving and adapting the historic Central School building , and fostering appreciation of the arts in the Bisbee community.
Programs and Exhibitions
The CSP Arts & Cultural Center offers exhibitions, movies, festivals, readings, performance, community space, studios and opportunities for Bisbee artists. Unlike a traditional museum, the majority of the historic 1905 building is dedicated to private artist studios. These spaces are generally not open to the public unless there is a specific “Open Studios” event or exhibition.
Gallery 32
You can visit the on-site gallery to see local contemporary works by Bisbee artists including a large selection of contemporary, original art pieces at affordable prices. Mediums include acrylic, oil, mixed media, pen & ink, watercolor, pencil, copper, metal and collage. Regular hours are typically Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though these can change based on the current exhibition schedule.
The best way to see the interior of the school is to attend one of their frequent community events, such as the “Tales From The Trash” art show (held in mid-March) or the annual MAKE Youth Arts Festival.
Even if you can’t get inside, the building itself is a preserved 1905 landmark. It is located just off the “main drag” in Old Bisbee at 43 Howell Avenue, making it an easy walk from downtown.
The facility has made significant strides in preservation and includes wheelchair-accessible entrances, a parking lot and a movie theater that plays independent films.
Admission to most gallery shows and youth festivals is free, but as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, donations are encouraged to help with the ongoing preservation of the historic schoolhouse.
Become Part of the Central School Project
When studios become available CSP has a call for applications. Interviews are then conducted by a member search committee. The call for applications is published on their website, via social media, and local newspapers. Membership requires a commitment of time (in-kind service hours) to fulfill their mission of fostering arts in the Bisbee community and preserving the historic Central School building.
Know Before You Go:
- Limited Public Hours: The main building primarily houses private artist studios and is not open for daily walk-in tours. Public access is typically limited to Saturdays and Sundays (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM) for gallery viewing.
- Event-Based Access: To see the interior of the historic 1905 schoolhouse, plan your visit around specific community events. Key annual highlights include:
- MAKE Youth Arts Festival: A free, all-day festival for children held every March.
- Bisbee Plein Air Festival: Visiting artists painting the town in October.
- ReMake Art Show: A popular found-object art exhibition usually running in late November.
- Gallery 32: CSP recently incorporated the former Tang Gallery. Now called Gallery 32, it showcases contemporary local works and is open Friday–Saturday (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM) and Sunday (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM).
- Location & Parking: The project is located at 43 Howell Avenue, just a short walk up the hill from Old Bisbee’s main district. Limited free parking is usually available on-site.
- Admission: Most exhibitions and community festivals have free admission, though as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, donations are highly encouraged to support building preservation.
- Historic Setting: Be aware that the building is a National Register of Historic Places site with original architecture; while it has accessible features, the hillside location and older staircases can be a factor for some visitors.
- Website: centralschoolproject.org