Membership

Located in the heart of Rowayton, on the banks of the Five Mile River, the Rowayton Arts Center was founded in 1960 as a focus for the creation and enjoyment of the arts. It is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to exhibit the work of the many creative people in this area, offer classes for artists of all levels, serve as a community cultural center and create an environment for the exchange of arts-related ideas.

Volunteers

RAC is a volunteer driven and run organization. Many of our members are non-artists, who see membership as a special opportunity to support the arts. They volunteer their time, helping to mount shows, host openings, locating judges, do mailings, develop special programs, help with the newsletter and publicity, sit at the front desk, and many other other activities.

We invite all artists and art lovers alike to join the Rowayton Arts Center (RAC) to support, enjoy and participate in our vibrant arts community.

RAC offers several membership categories: Supporting Membership, Exhibiting Membership, Individual, Family and Art Angel, as well as Business Benefactor.

All applicants enter as supporting members, to enjoy membership benefits. A supporting member may become a full exhibiting member by submitting three works to be reviewed by the Artist Selection Committee. Paintings, prints, drawings and photos should be adequately framed; sculptors may submit photos or slides. A short bio must accompany the application. The committee meets in January, March, July and October.

An Art Angel pays a greater membership fee, but does not have to pay the $15 hanging fee for exhibiting. Exhibiting members may exhibit and sell art in all RAC exhibitions. Supporting members may exhibit and sell in the student shows, the holiday show and the juried show. A Business Benefactor enjoys an art-support position within the business community.

Benefits include:

• Exhibition opportunities
• Participation in arts-related activities (museum trips, and lectures)
• Discounts on single purchases over $100
• Bi-monthly RAC newsletter
• Notice of Special RAC events

Exhibitions

For the display and sale of art, three galleries as well as additional space in the upstairs studio are available - ample facilities for year-round exhibitions including membership and invitational shows. Our galleries are open year-round to the public, free of charge.

RAC offers daytime and evening, weekday and weekend art classes in a variety of media for beginner through advanced levels. Children are offered weekend classes. Workshops and demonstrations are a regular part of our activities. The setting for all these events is our well-equipped upstairs studio or on location outdoors.

A variety of special events helps maintain a strong presence in the community. Among these events is a yearly Art-in-the-Park show in Pinkney Park following Rowayton's Memorial Day Parade, art appreciation tours, and social events such as exhibition openings.