Visual & Performing Arts at the Kenan Center

“No feeling of satisfaction quite equals that of having done a difficult job extremely well.” William R. Kenan, Jr.

Highlights from 2009/2010 Performing Arts Series
Missoula Children's Theatre, October 2009
Cello Fury, May 2010

The Kenan Center offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the visual and performing arts in the Buffalo Niagara region. The historic Kenan Center house offers several rooms of gallery space for approximately nine fine arts exhibits each year. A converted carriage house behind the house contains the intimate, 153-seat Taylor Theater. The Kenan Arena, built in the 1960's, and located at the back of the campus, provides an ideal venue for the Center's larger visual arts events including a bi-annual Quilters' Guild show, and 100 American Craftsmen, a contemporary craft show that draws thousands each year to the Kenan Center campus.

Visual Arts

The Kenan Center House Gallery is actually several rooms on the first and second floors of the Kenan house, specially equipped for hanging art. Gallery visitors are treated to two artistic experiences: the works on view in the gallery exhibits, and the exquisite Victorian decor of the house, itself. Floor-to-ceiling windows, carved mahogany doors, Italian marble floors, and nine ornate fireplaces, are just a few of the fine contruction details that make a visit to the House Gallery a memorable experience.

The House Gallery hosts approximately nine fine art exhibits each year that are free and open to the public. Along with exhibits by local and regional artists, the gallery also hosts the Storrs All-High Photo Show, which showcases the photographic talents of high school students from across western and central New York, and an annual show of the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society.

Craft Art

Craft art is the focus of two of the most popular events on the Kenan Center calendar. Coming the weekend following the Memorial Day holiday, 100 American Craftsmen is truly the start of summer in the Niagara region! While well over a hundred artists apply for this prestigious, juried show each year; only those who meet the high standards of quality, craftsmanship, and originality are accepted. 100 American Craftsmen is also unique in that it takes place completely indoors in the Kenan Center Arena, making it a rain or shine event.

A smaller but equally popular juried crafts show takes place just before Thanksgiving each year. The Holiday Gift Show features fifty local and regional craft artists whose work is chosen especially with holiday shoppers in mind. Here you'll find a wide range of items from handcrafted jewelry, porcelain ornaments, paper clay figurines, and hand-bound journals, to exquisite dried and silk floral arrangements, delicious chocolate treats, children's toys, and folk art of all shapes and sizes. The Holiday Gift Show offers visitors a rare opportunity to visit all three of the historic Kenan Center buildings, which are used for exhibit space.

Taylor Theater circa 1971.

Performing Arts

The 153-seat Taylor Theater is actually a converted carriage house, or more accurately, the stable which housed the carriage horses, and its original, rough-hewn beams and ceiling add a unique flavor to the experience.

The Taylor Theater is located in a converted carriage house directly behind the Kenan House at 433 Locust Street. Regular and wheelchair access is from the north side of building via the sidewalk. Ample parking is located behind the theater. Click here for directions to the Kenan Center.

The Kenan Center has a long history of persenting exceptional touring artists of world-class caliber that can be enjoyed by the whole family along with community theater groups who regularly present their own productions. See below for updates on current performances.

Highlights from Previous Shows

Highlights from Cello Fury's May 7, 2010 concert in the Kenan Center Taylor theater.

Slideshow from Missoula Children's Theatre Auditions October 17: A record turn-out for our 7th year! Sixty children were selected including four assistant directors. Take a look at what took place:

Performance Photos from King Arthur's Quest: Enjoy a slideshow from the October 17 performance of King Arthur's Quest with our community children and the Missoula Children's Theatre!