The Emporium Center

The Emporium Center is a flexible event venue in downtown Knoxville, housed in a distinctive 1890s building on Gay Street. Managed by the Arts & Culture Alliance, this nonprofit space offers organisers a setting with tall ceilings, original brickwork, timber details and large windows that bring in natural light. Its gallery surroundings and historic character give receptions and gatherings a different feel from a conventional function room.

The venue is available for private and organisational events, including dinners, receptions, fundraisers and wedding ceremonies. The two public spaces can be used together or separately, with capacities depending on the layout and style of the occasion. The venue describes the space as most suitable for up to 150 guests for seated receptions and up to 300 for standing receptions. For a ceremony and reception combined, it recommends a smaller gathering of 125 guests or fewer.

Organisers can bring their own caterers and suppliers, or manage arrangements themselves. The rental includes practical items such as banquet tables, folding chairs, a portable PA system with microphone, a projection screen, easels and rubbish bins. The venue does not provide labour for set-up or clean-up, so planners should include those arrangements in their schedule. Bookings are priced by the hour or half-hour, with rates varying by event type and date. An availability calendar and direct enquiry form help organisers check possible dates and share event details. Hiring the space also supports the Arts & Culture Alliance's work in Knoxville's arts community, while the galleries continue to display work by local and regional artists.