The Vision for Stuart High School
Martin County needs a space where the arts don’t just survive—they flourish!
MartinArts stands at a crossroads—and so does the future of the arts in Martin County.
Our vision for the Stuart High School Arts Campus is shovel-ready. The plans are drawn. A business plan is drafted. The need is urgent. But without your immediate investment, this transformational project risks stalling before it can begin.
The truth is this: our arts community is already stretched to its limits—organizations are struggling, artists are leaving, and young people are missing out on creative opportunities that shape futures. We cannot afford to wait.
It’s more than a vision—it’s a vital investment in what comes next.
If we fail to act now, we risk losing not only momentum, but the very heart of our creative community. The window is narrow, and we need partners who believe in the power of the arts to step forward—immediately.
A Creative Community Without a Home
Martin County’s arts community is growing—but it’s scattered, under-resourced, and operating without a true home.
Right now, many of our local arts organizations are squeezed into temporary or ill-equipped spaces. Individual artists often can’t afford to create or exhibit their work locally. Students and families in areas like East Stuart face barriers to affordable arts education. And while downtown Stuart is rich in charm, the arts campus will be a new, exciting anchor, expanding Stuart’s footprint to the east, which will draw residents, visitors, and economic activity year-round.
A Solution Rooted in History and Purpose
MartinArts is providing the leadership and vision to change that. To date nearly a half a million dollars has been raised to secure the “Intent to Lease” (for a 50+ year lease) with the Martin County School District, evaluate the structure, and start planning to restore and repurpose the historic Stuart High School—transforming it into a permanent home for the arts in the very center of our community.
This adaptive reuse project will breathe new life into one of Stuart’s last remaining 1920s buildings, creating a vibrant Arts Campus that serves as both a cultural hub and an economic catalyst. The original bones of the building—its stage, layout, and character—remain intact, honoring the past while building something visionary for the future.
The Stuart High School Arts Campus will become the home that Martin County’s creative community has long needed. But it only happens if people like you step forward.
Join us for a Tour of Stuart High School
Interested in learning more? Join us for an upcoming walk through of the site and vision. We'll meet at 500 SE Ocean Boulevard in the lobby of the main building. The tours typically take about 1 hour. When you register, you can see the times of the tours on the following dates. Registration is required so we can plan appropriately and share additional details with you.
News & Updates:
The Arts Foundation of Martin County (dba MartinArts) is soliciting proposals from qualified architectural firms to provide comprehensive architectural design services for the renovation and repurposing of the historic Stuart High School (SHS) and its adjacent classroom buildings. These services will support the transformation of the facilities into a new Arts Campus, contributing to the cultural vibrancy of Martin County.
The Foundation is particularly interested in working with a firm located within 20 miles of downtown Stuart, Florida, to promote collaboration and site accessibility.
The Stuart News recently featured updates on the Stuart High School project and the growing demand on spaces for artists and art education.
