FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jordan@jgpr.net

Collaborative Effort Brings Art to Halls of Rochester Community Center

ROCHESTER — City Manager Blaine Cox, Recreation & Arena Director Chris Bowlen and Rochester Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Co-Founder Matt Wyatt are pleased to share that the Community Center will soon feature art in the building’s hallways.

The MFA has been exhibiting art in the Community Center since 2014. In 2018, it moved to a suite in the building and added a small gallery to feature a different artist every few months.

In order to increase awareness and foot traffic to the museum’s suite, the MFA is partnering with Rochester Rec to add art near the building’s front entrance. The hallways have been re-painted and will feature art from the MFA’s collection along with signage encouraging the public to visit the museum at the other end of the building.

“This partnership is a win-win for both the MFA and the Rec,” Wyatt said. “Our museum will get more exposure as people first enter the building and the Rec will have a wide variety of fine art on display. The recreation department has done a lot over the past few years to make the building more welcoming and we are happy to assist in those efforts.”

In addition to the art, the Rec will be welcoming a Community Center Attendant. Though the recreation department has always provided part-time staff for programs and events, the attendant will be available year-round to interact with the community by answering questions and helping visitors find other Rochester organizations in the building.

“Collaboration was key for this initiative,” Bowlen said. “The Recreation Department’s goal is always to make the Community Center a friendly hub of resources and activities for city residents. We want the building to be comfortable and in line with our mission to cultivate community connections, while the MFA wants the building to be beautiful and to make their art widely accessible to the community and the building department supports both of these goals by providing facilities support. The collaborative effort between multiple city departments made this project a success.”

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