Arts at the Kenan Center

“The Kenan Center has been an integral part of my artistic aspirations from my early high school years to present day. As an art teacher, Kenan has given local school districts the chance to showcase the artwork of many talented students in a gallery setting. Kenan workshops and classes offer participants a unique opportunity to work along side local artists and learn new insights in the creation of their art.”
— Robert Rimmer, Art Teacher, Newfane High School on VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMMING

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Gallery Exhibits
Visual Arts
Craft Arts
Performing Arts
Family Performance Series

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, Crossing Borders featuring the work of Canadian Artists, 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.

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.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE SERIES
The Family Performance Series will enter its 9th season this fall. The goal of the Family Performance Series is to present quality performances by nationally known performing artists to young people and their families in the Buffalo Niagara region. Performers are selected who can successfully relate to audiences while presenting a positive role model to young people. See the Calendar of Events for upcoming performances.

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.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE SERIES 2007-2008 SEASON

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