MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Ormsby, RCA Communications Manager
(361) 320-2064 / vanessa@rockportartcenter.com
ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
State-of-the-art campus attracting thousands of visitors annually to seaside community
ROCKPORT, Texas — Located one block from Aransas Bay, the Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) serves as the home to hallmark art exhibitions and programs.
Attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually, the 1.2-acre campus features a 14,000-square-foot visual arts and art education building, The Rockport Conference Center (The ROCC), an adjacent 8,000-square-foot conference and event center; and the 16,000-square-foot Patricia Bennett Moore Sculpture Garden.
“We are so proud of this amazing campus, a true gem in the heart of downtown Rockport” said Luis Purón, executive director for RCA. “Our membership, the community, and others throughout Texas at large were so supportive of our efforts to rebuild following the destruction brought by Hurricane Harvey in 2017; this is a testament to their efforts and we are so grateful.”
A partnership with the City of Rockport and the first original facility to be built for the celebrated non-profit organization since its founding in 1969, RCA officially opened on December 11, 2022. Award-winning Richter Architects of Corpus Christi designed the new coastal contemporary facility, with Teal Construction Company, of Houston and Corpus Christi, serving as the general contractor for the project.
Serving as the focal point of the $12.5-million campus is the visual arts and art education building featuring five galleries and five classrooms. Three of the RCA galleries are located on the upper level, including the 1,600-square-foot H-E-B Gallery, the largest of the five spaces, and the 850-square-foot McKelvey Charitable Fund Gallery, both of which host a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. Also on the upper level is the 500-square-foot Jeanie and Bill Wyatt Gallery, featuring small-scale sculptures. The 850-square-foot Mendez Family Gallery is located on the main level, serving as the permanent exhibition area for member artists, along with the John and Mary Willrodt Gift Shop featuring only handmade works from member artists.
“Having multiple galleries allows us to showcase a variety of exhibitions at any given time while providing us the opportunity to focus more on the individual artists and their work,” said Purón, “The spaces will be ever-changing; nothing is permanent. The walls are very tall with no windows, allowing great flexibility in our displays and everything on campus is state of the art, including beautiful lighting capabilities and a great audio-visual setup that we can incorporate into the exhibitions.”
RCA features and highlights include:
· Five spacious classrooms on the main level dedicated to the making of art: the Fernandes Family Studio, the main classroom for advanced workshops; the Margaret Sue Rust Foundation Studio; the June Ainsworth Studio; the Bridgie & John Barrett Studio; and the Bill Hildebrand & Sam Williams Ceramic Studio, the main classroom for advanced clay workshops
· Home to Art Education programs, the public can sign up online for hands-on RCA classes and workshops including painting/drawing, jewelry, photography, mixed-media, sculpture, clay, and new media
· The 16,000-square-foot Patricia Bennett Moore Sculpture Garden with greenery, water features, bench seating and 10 works from the RCA permanent collection of 23 by artists with state, national and international recognition
· The 450-square-foot Kelly and Scott Biar Terrace, provides beautiful rooftop views of the bay and garden below
· The John and Mary Willrodt Gift Shop, featuring only handmade works from member artists including jewelry, pottery, paper craft (cards and prints), and fabric art
· A 60-space surface parking area located one block away at 101 N. Magnolia St., with parking spaces also available on surrounding streets
For information, visit rockportartcenter.com, follow RCA on Facebook and Instagram, or call (361) 729-5519.
About Rockport Center for the Arts
The new 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts, the Coastal Bend’s first multidisciplinary arts organization, is located a block away from Aransas Bay in the heart of the Rockport Cultural Arts District. Designed by the award-winning team at Richter Architects, the state-of-the-art campus features a two-story, 14,000-square-foot, visual arts and education building with four galleries and five classrooms (204 S. Austin St.); The Rockport Conference Center, a one-story, 8,000-square-foot conference and event center, known as The ROCC, (106 S. Austin St.); with a 16,000-square-foot Sculpture Garden serving as a visually inspiring transition space between the two buildings. The hours of operation for the showroom, galleries, and gift shop are Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday from noon–4 p.m. Admission is always free. For information on event space, or to book an event, call (361) 450-8033. For general information and to become a member, visit rockportartcenter.com, follow RCA on Facebook, or call (361) 729-5519.
About The Rockport Conference Center (The ROCC)
Located at 106 S. Austin St. on the 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts campus is The Rockport Conference Center (The ROCC). Perfect for small conferences and board meetings, team-building events, family reunions, wedding receptions and more, the one-story, 8,000-square-foot conference and event center features a 4,400-square-foot ballroom (Randy Ewing Kemper Hall), 1,400-square-foot reception area (Estelle Stair Foyer), a fully equipped catering and culinary arts kitchen, and state-of-the-art AV and Wi-Fi throughout. For general information or to book an event, visit the-rocc.com, or call (361) 450-8033.
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07/2024