Ancram Center for the Arts Opens New Annex in Restored 1780s Building
The Annex adds artist housing, intern space, and classrooms near the original Opera House in Ancram's Historic Hamlet District.
On May 22 Ancram Center for the Arts opened The Annex, a restored 1780s building adjacent to the original Opera House theater in Ancram's Historic Hamlet District.
The expanded footprint of the arts complex includes housing for artists and interns and additional community classroom space for the Center's educational programs. On hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony were representatives from the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and the Ancram Preservation Group (APG), all of which assisted with the acquisition and rehabilitation of the historic building and upgrades to the existing theater, including adding an outdoor seating area, ADA compliant restrooms and entrances, and reserved parking in front of the complex for patrons with limited mobility.
More than 60 people attended the event held in the theater against a backdrop of screened projections illustrating the progress of the restoration, from interior demolition to foundation excavation to window installation to the final coat of paint. Ancram Center Board Chair Cathy Redlich described the commemoration as a “pivotal moment in Ancram Center's ten-year history,” reflective of Co-Directors Paul Ricciardi and Jeff Mousseau's artistic vision “to connect art with community.”
New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett, a long-time supporter of how the arts help communities flourish, said, “As the Ancram Center for the Arts enters its second decade, today's ribbon cutting for the new Annex shows not only how much this wonderful arts organization has grown from its Ancram Opera House roots, but also how committed Paul, Jeff and the board are to the greater Ancram – and Columbia County – communities. The Annex will provide community classroom space and housing for artists and interns while welcoming both residents and new visitors and delighting them with always fresh, professional, and thought-provoking performances.”
The New York State Council on the Arts has been an ongoing supporter of the Ancram Center. In a congratulatory statement, NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin wrote, “With a newly renovated facility for community gatherings and artist lodging, the Ancram Center for the Arts will be able to amplify their programming and further serve the Hudson Valley with innovative programming and exciting performances. Congratulations to the entire team, NYSCA is proud to support your vital work.”
The New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) provided $225,675 toward The Annex project under the New York Main Street program. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, more than $23 million has been provided under New York Main Street to support property owners investing in 74 historic downtowns, mixed-use neighborhood commercial districts, and village centers across the State. New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Acquiring and creating The Annex building next to the Ancram Center for the Arts - thanks in part to more than $200,000 awarded under the New York Main Street program – complements HCR's commitment to revitalizing communities by providing educational space and an accessible place for guest artists to stay. Thanks to the Ancram Arts Center, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Ancram Preservation Group and other state and local partners for supporting the rehabilitation of this 18th century building, thereby strengthening this vital Hudson Valley arts organization for years to come.”
Representing Ancram Preservation Group at the commemoration, Ancram resident Andrea Barnet said, “The renovation transforms the whole hamlet. What Ancram Center has done proves that it takes a community and we're proud to be part of, in a small way, this historic moment.”
Additional funding for the Ancram Center Annex, a mixed use facility for artist housing and community meeting space, was provided in part through a New York State capital grant sponsored by Assemblymember Didi Barrett and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY); the New York Main Street program, administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal; the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and Ancram Preservation Group.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “The Ancram Center Annex is a strong example of how investments in arts and community infrastructure can help revitalize historic spaces while creating new opportunities for residents, artists, and visitors alike. DASNY is proud to help administer funding that supports projects like this across New York State.”
Capturing the mood of the day was NYSCA's Lindsay Turley in her address to the assembled celebrants: “Attending events like this where we celebrate the opening of a new space is the highlight of our job at the NYSCA Capital Projects Team. We get to see the beautiful spaces you have created to showcase your mission-driven work and also see firsthand how deeply beloved organizations like the Ancram Center are by their communities. In times like this we need spaces to come together to create and to find joy. Thank you for having the courage and the vision it takes to do the work that inspires, connects, and strengthens all of us.”
Ancram Center for the Arts is an award-winning theater located in New York's Hudson Valley. Ancram Center is dedicated to presenting risk-taking productions and new work by nationally recognized theater artists in an intimate performance space.
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