Bare Hands’ new headquarters in Woodlawn. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Today, local arts non-profit Bare Hands announced that it has acquired a historic church building in the heart of Woodlawn. The century-old building will be renovated and reopened in 2026 as Bare Hands Community Arts Center (BHCAC).

Bham Now spoke with the Bare Hands team to learn more.

About Bare Hands, Inc.

Founded in 1996, Bare Hands is a local arts nonprofit organization that works with local individuals and communities to create immersive art experiences and education programs.

In addition to community programming and education, Bare Hands puts on two popular annual events:

Día de Los Muertos—one of the most intricate Day of the Dead celebrations in the Southeast—features massive art installations, music and dance performances, memorial altars (ofrendas), a parade procession and much more.
Birmingham Taco Fest is a celebration of Birmingham’s top taco vendors and food trucks. This culinary experience lifts up the many restaurants and artists in Birmingham in an event packed with music, dancing, community arts activities and more.

A new home for Bare Hands

Bare Hands has long needed a new space to host its community programming, event preparation and more. Now, the nonprofit has found its new home: a historic church building dating back to 1914.

Located at 125 57th St N, the church building is located in the heart of Woodlawn next to the Wood Family Cemetery and Woodlawn High School.

“The purchase of this property is an exciting milestone for Bare Hands and it demonstrates our dedication to the community. With this space, we can expand our reach and deepen our impact.

This property is not just a physical space. It represents our long-term commitment to empowering individuals, fostering unity and promoting sustainability in this neighborhood and beyond.”
Mark Cenczyk, Board President, Bare Hands, Inc.

The new building will soon be home to the Bare Hands Community Arts Center (BHCAC), an important step in Bare Hands’ vision to “celebrate and honor one another through creative expression building broader community and long-lasting connections.”

The new space will allow Bare Hands to expand its accessible art programming through:

Classes and workshops
Exhibitions and performances
Festival preparation and storage
Community outreach

Once complete, the BHCAC will be a hub where local artists and community-based arts programming can thrive in the vibrant Woodlawn neighborhood.

Bare Hands needs your support

Today, Bare Hands kicked off its $1.5M capital campaign to raise funds for the building’s renovation and redevelopment of the BHCAC. The organization is seeking corporate sponsorship, grants, individual giving and other partnerships to help bring this vision to life.

“We recognize that strong communities are built on collaboration, and we’re committed to working alongside other organizations, businesses and residents in Woodlawn to foster an environment of growth, support and opportunity for everyone.

This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Bare Hands and we’re thrilled to see the positive impact this space will have for years to come.”
Aimee Castro, Executive Director, Bare Hands, Inc.

Learn more about Bare Hands and the BHCAC capital campaign.

Excited to see Bare Hands get a new headquarters in Woodlawn? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!