Interim Executive Director for Clayton Center for the Arts, Christy McDonald Slavick, gives an update on the opening of the Center’s Vienna Coffee Shop on the Maryville College campus. Maryville College is a nationally-ranked private liberal arts college. Maryville-based Vienna Coffee, founded by John Clark, is an award-winning, sustainably sourced specialty coffee roaster.
Tell us about the Center.
Located on Maryville College campus, the Clayton Center comprises a larger building with our main theater connected by a beautiful plaza and a smaller Building B—an academic building for fine arts classes, art galleries, and now, the Vienna Coffee shop. It’s home to Maryville College Fine Arts Division, The Clayton Center Presenting Season and a rental facility for organizations wanting professional productions, including our resident artists, the Appalachian Ballet Company.
A family and company effort, Clayton Family Foundation and Clayton Homes are our wonderful partners who originally provided the funding that named the Center. We are proud of this private-public partnership with the cities of Alcoa and Maryville, Maryville College and the Industrial Development Board.
Why add a Vienna Coffee Shop?
Vienna Coffee on the Maryville campus had been a dream partnership for many years. John roasted one of his first coffees, the Highland Blend, which is the Maryville College Tartan, on campus. Vienna Coffee Company is located downtown, with a broad retail distribution network regionally. A few years ago, my colleague, John Berry, and I made a trip to Carson-Newman University to look at their Vienna Coffee Shop on campus, which really motivated us, because Vienna is our hometown brand. We started working with John and Vienna COO, Kelly Wiggins, to conceptualize our campus coffee shop in Building B in a space originally intended as a restaurant.
How did it take shape?
From concept to ribbon-cutting, it was about a three-year process. Renovating the space was also a partnership. The college invested in updating the commercial kitchen with new appliances and countertops and painting. Our loyal patron, Joy Bishop, left a legacy gift that we used to furnish the Center. Vienna added their coffee equipment and branding, as well as beautiful Scottish thistle graphics and photography from the farms where their beans are grown.
John’s daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and Les Stoneham, who now run Vienna, were big players in the project. Jamie designed the space. Les oversaw development from an operational side. Kelly and Beau Branton, Marketing and Events Manager, and I worked together throughout to ensure the vision we had would become reality.
What is your vision for the Center?
It’s more than just a venue where people come to see shows. Along with four visual arts galleries, we just dedicated the Doug and Sally Gross Memorial Garden, partnering with Dogwood Arts to place sculpture in the garden. I want to activate these spaces so it’s more than just having a transactional relationship with the Center. We encourage you to buy a ticket and see a show. Additionally, this is a community hub for arts and culture, where people can spend time and enjoy the Center beyond attending a show. When I approached Vienna, they agreed it helped fulfill their mission to connect the community and college. This is another opportunity for our community to discover and appreciate the arts and culture gem.
How is the coffee shop being received?
It’s doing exactly what we wanted: bringing more people to this side of campus. Open from 7:30 AM to 2 PM weekdays, there’s typically a class meeting, students studying, and running in to grab coffee and go. Our patrons can get coffee and walk through our galleries and plaza as they enjoy our spaces.
We’ll work with Vienna on certain types of shows where they will open at other times. We’ll collaborate on cross-promotions during our programming. Once we understand how our patrons and students use the space, we can begin to expand our hours and offerings.
What do you want people to know about the Center?
When you think about going to a show or concert, or think about arts and culture, you think about the many venues in Knoxville—Knoxville Museum of Art, the Bijou, the Tennessee Theatre, the Mill and Mine. The Clayton Center, however, provides a space for a lot of different art forms to happen all in this one place. You can see a variety of different shows and artists on our stages, while being within walking distance of downtown restaurants and retail. Along with a 1,000+ seat theater, recital hall, black box theater, art galleries and art garden, we now have culinary with the coffee shop.
I want people to come who have never been here before to really see the place for what it is and take advantage of all the arts programming we have to offer. I truly would like people to know that Clayton Center for the Arts is an extraordinary destination for arts and culture.
Clayton Center for The Arts Fall and Holiday Highlights
What’s coming up for families to bring their holiday out-of-town guests?
We are especially jazzed about “Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol” over the Thanksgiving holiday for families. This show opened during Covid, so we’re bringing it to our theater for the first touring production since then.
Oct. 5: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
Oct. 16: Improvised Shakespeare Company, Penny for the Arts*
Oct. 19: Naturally 7
Oct. 23: The Appalachian Ballet Company Presents: Dracula
Oct. 30: Vitamin String Quartet: The Music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton and Beyond
Nov. 14: Randy Travis: More Life Tour
Nov. 15: The Okee Dokee Brothers, Penny for the Arts*
Nov. 29: Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol
Dec. 12: The Appalachian Ballet Company Presents: The Nutcracker
Dec. 15: Wheel of Fortune LIVE!
Check out patron membership with perks like 10-15% discounts, seasonal events and gallery receptions, concierge ticketing and reserved seating. “Our goal is to build a membership where we spend more time getting to know and engaging with the people who are interested in what we do here.”
ClaytoArtsCenter.com/membership-options.
*Penny for the Arts – Parents buy a ticket, and children’s ticket is a penny.
“The Clayton Center is celebrating our 15th anniversary season. It’s amazing how young it is, but how much impact it’s had in the community.” —Christy McDonald Slavick, Interim Executive Director.