OAK RIDGE, TN - The Friends of the Grove Theater board has released the official rendering for a new large-scale mural on the theater’s unique façade. This gives the community its first look at the artwork that will soon transform one of Oak Ridge’s most iconic cultural landmarks. The rendering showcases a vibrant design that blends elements of the city’s history with contemporary artistic expression, reflecting the Grove Theater’s longstanding role as a hub for creativity and community connection.

The mural design - which was created by Bryan Wilkerson and made possible by a generous grant from the Oak Ridge Fund for Achieving Community Excellence (ORFACE, an affiliate fund of the East Tennessee Foundation) draws inspiration from local stories, the theater’s architectural character, and the spirit of Oak Ridge. The rendering illustrates how the completed mural will enhance the building’s façade and contribute to ongoing efforts to expand public art throughout Oak Ridge. Installation is underway, with completion anticipated later this Fall.

“Sharing this rendering is an exciting milestone for the project. It gives the community a clear vision of what’s ahead and highlights the creativity and collaboration behind the design,” said Dan Mantooth, President of Friends of the Grove Theater Board of Trustees. According to Jim Rushton, president of ORFACE board, “The Grove Theater has always been a place where art thrives, and our board is excited to help fund this amazing mural, creating a centerpiece for the revitalization of Grove Center.”

Artist Bryan Wilkerson emphasized the importance of grounding the design in local identity. “This rendering represents months of listening, sketching, and refining. My goal was to create a mural that feels deeply connected to Oak Ridge—something that honors its past while celebrating its future.”

The release of the rendering marks a key step in the project's development — but more importantly, it reflects a partnership between Friends of the Historic Grove Theater, the Grove Center merchants, and the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association to build a new future for the Grove Center.

"We would love to see all supporters of the arts and the Grove Theater join us for the upcoming events in October, which will raise funds not just for the Historic Grove Theater, but for the Grove Center and the local arts community as a whole," said Joy Bonamarte, Executive Director of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

Additional events planned in concert with this vision include:

UPCOMING:

• October 16 – Harvest Table, a black-tie dinner celebrating the new Grove Theater mural, at Historic Grove Center — Oak Ridge, Tennessee

• October 17 – Fall Pumpkin Fest, a free family event benefiting SARG and the Grove Center community

About the Friends of the Grove Theater

In 2004, High Places Community Church purchased the Grove Theater—rescuing what was, at that time, an abandoned and derelict building slated for demolition. Thanks to an army of volunteers, the church brought the theater back to life, restoring the original theater space and converting several movie theater rooms into useable performance and classroom spaces. Behind it all was a bold vision: to make the theater a free venue available to the local community.

Since 2004, we have hosted over 1,500 events, performances, fundraisers, recitals and more — serving over 350,000 visitors. Thanks to High Places’ financial and volunteer support, fundraising efforts by Friends of the Grove, and the generosity of our community, the Grove Theater has been able to host over 1,500 events, performances, fundraiser, recitals and more—serving over 350,000 visitors—on a “pay-it-forward” basis.

Because the Grove Theater is not a for-profit “venue for rent,” there are no rental fees for use of the facility. While we absolutely welcome donations from user groups, it may not make sense for the organizer of a free concert or a nonprofit fundraiser to contribute financially. Instead, we invite our user groups (and visitors) to think creatively about the resources and opportunities they do have to support our mission. If you see value in what the Grove Theater has to offer, there are plenty of ways you can give back in a meaningful way!

To see upcoming events, learn more, or donate to support the preservation of this important community gem, visit to: historicgrovetheater.org.