WHERE CULTURE FEELS LIKE HOME
What makes the Lynchburg region unique is the way art isn’t confined to galleries or stages — it’s woven into neighborhoods, infused into local businesses, and elevated through community pride.
For families, entrepreneurs, young professionals, and retirees alike, the region offers a vibrant cultural ecosystem shaped by collaboration, creativity, and genuine Southern hospitality. In the Lynchburg region, art isn’t just something you see — it’s something you live.
Elise M. Spontarelli Executive Director Vector Space
INSIDE LOOK
Adam and Elise Spontarelli moved to Lynchburg after college, drawn by the strong engineering community. Adam is a mechanical engineer, and with a long history of entrepreneurship in her family Elise jumped right into founding her own graphic design company. They didn’t know at age 22 that Lynchburg would be a long-term home, but 16 years later they are well-rooted in the community. In 2015, Adam and Elise founded a nonprofit community makerspace, Vector Space. A personal passion quickly turned into full time work for both of them, and almost 10 years later the makerspace is an anchor in the community. While there are makerspaces throughout the country, the ideal combination of low cost-of-living with a bustling creative community make ours one of the top makerspaces in the country. At 23,000 square feet of shared work space and equipment with over 250 members, Vector Space is the birthplace of many community initiatives. Public art, little free pantries, infrastructure for local businesses, entrepreneur and workforce training, award- winning youth programs, and most recently a competitive robotics team for teens are just a few of the byproducts of this thriving community space. Founder Elise Spontarelli credits Lynchburg’s strong support for creative, hands-on education and the collaborative energy among nonprofits and businesses as key factors to the organization’s success.
In Lynchburg, there is room and opportunity to contribute your ideas for our shared future. While at first glance, Lynchburg may not seem quite the bustling metropolis found in other cities around the state, we do have a talented art scene, both performing and visual arts, and are within a day trip of several larger cities offering even more opportunity for cultural engagement. Our family regularly travels to Richmond and Roanoke for shows, chess competitions, and museums, and we can be in DC by train or car in just a few hours. Should we want the quiet peace of nature, we can reach several hiking trails on foot and a quick trip to the mountains offers endless hiking, biking, and snow sports. Lynchburg is an ideal spot for those that value community and nature, but do not want to give up the enriching aspects of art and innovation. Join us in making ours a thriving city for all!
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