The Laurel Theater is the home of Jubilee Community Arts. The Laurel has served as a performance space since at least 1969, when it became one of two former churches contributed to the ecumenical Epworth Ministry, a novel experiment in collaboration between Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Catholics to serve the needs of the Knoxville inner city, UT students, and Southern Appalachia. The George Barber & Co designed building was constructed in 1898 as the Fort Sanders Presbyterian Church and served in that role until 1965, when the congregation was dissolved.
The Laurel became the main center of activity for Jubilee Community Arts (an offshoot of the Epworth Ministry) in the early 1980s, but suffered a catastrophic fire in 1982. After a volunteer led rebuilding process, a modernized Laurel reopened in 1986 and has supported our annual concert series, dance groups, and a range of other activities ever since.
