The Arlington Center for the Arts was established as a community arts center in 1988 by a visionary group of artists, writers, musicians and educators as a place where artists could share their work with the community through educational and outreach programs and also find studio space.

The Arlington Center for the Arts offers more than 250 programs annually in the visual, literary, and performing arts, many of which are free to the community. Programs include classes and workshops for adults and children, exhibits, literature readings, an on-line poetry magazine, theater and music performances, lectures, arts festivals, and many more programs designed to make art accessible to all.