75 Years in the Making

The Rochester Art Center was established in 1946 to give citizens and visitors of Rochester the opportunity to know, practice and enjoy the arts, to show the vital relationship of the arts to our daily lives, and to join with other community groups to make Rochester a cultural center worthy of its scientific achievement. November 15, 2021 marks our seventy-fifth year of meeting this mission.

Newton Holland, who penned the letter that envisioned the Art Center on his 50th birthday, owned a fine grocery and well-respected cafeteria in Rochester. His goal for the Art Center was to nourish people’s need for creativity as much as he nourished them with quality foods. Dan Holland, Newton’s son, who is a skilled poet, witnessed the entire history of the Art Center. He remains a friend of the Art Center. In December 2020, he sent us a poem he wrote, which is displayed in a case in the exhibition. Click here to view the poem.

Arts are integral to the health of communities. They add to the social well-being of residents and visitors, as well as to the economic value of a community. Dan Holland asserts, Rochester Art Center marked the beginning of grassroots arts organizations in small communities across America. While Rochester has developed into a burgeoning international destination, the Art Center has grown in pace, but our values remain – to present welcoming, integrated, and diverse experiences that encourage questioning, creativity and critical thinking.

Visit the galleries Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm or enjoy this virtual tour of the exhibition by visiting our website: https://rochesterartcenter.org/exhibition/75-years-in-the-making/

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