About Us
Founded in 1977, the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art is the premier space for modern and contemporary art in Staten Island. Each year, the Newhouse Center presents two or three major exhibitions, five Access Gallery, and three Artist-in- Residence exhibitions. The Newhouse Center creates programs for the growth and development of artists and the public while serving both local, regional and international constituencies in 15,000 square feet of gallery space, outdoor and off-site projects, educational programs, 30 artist studios, and an international residency program. The Newhouse Center accomplishes its mission by:
- Promoting inquiry and learning through exhibitions and artist projects and related educational and public programs, publications, and interpretive materials;
- Presenting art in a context which offers new and historical perspectives on contemporary issues to provide a platform for discourse and understanding;
- Supporting local, regional, national, and international artists through exhibitions, workspace, residencies, professional development opportunities, and commissioning new work;
- Creating opportunities for artists to engage with other disciplines or have their work seen within the context of other disciplines, while providing innovative forums in which the public interacts with artists and participates in the creative process;
- Planning and implementing programs in consultation with current and potential constituents with an emphasis on developing new audiences;
- Fostering collaborations with on-site, regional, national, and international organizations; and
- Exploring new models for artist/public engagement.
History
In 1976, New York City purchased Snug Harbor for use as a cultural center, and shortly thereafter a community gallery was founded on the site. The antecedent to the Newhouse Center was opened in 1977 as the Samuel I. and Mitzi E. Newhouse Community Gallery and exhibited a combination of professional and amateur artists. In 1987 the Community Gallery became the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, adjusting its mission to cover contemporary art (post 1945) with a special emphasis on Staten Island and under-recognized artists.
