The Westport Arts Center (WAC) today officially announced what had been known for some time — it plans to expand and relocate this fall from 51 Riverside Ave. in Westport’s center to 19 Newtown Turnpike on the Westport-Norwalk line in a facility that once served as Martha Stewart’s television studio.
The Westport Arts Center released these photos of its new home at 19 Newtown Turnpike. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photos by Johnny Fogg
The first phase of the new location and expansion of 10,000 square feet, is scheduled for the fall, WAC officials said.
According to Heather Lawless, WAC spokeswoman, the opening coincides with WAC’s 50th anniversary, “marrying our rich heritage with an exciting new chapter as a leading contemporary arts destination.”
Lawless said the new location, the original 1926 stone building, attached warehouse and free-standing cottages “altogether offer the potential of 33,000 square feet for museum exhibitions, state-of-the-art classrooms, concerts and events, as well as offices.”
She added that the six-acre property includes sprawling outdoor garden space and parking for 110 vehicles.
The decision to move to the outlying campus came after failed efforts to find a home closer to Westport’s center. Over the years, there had been talk of relocating to an area of Jesup Green near the Westport Library as well as taking space on the town-owned Baron’s South.
The Arts Center has been in its current space since June 2002. Previously from 1986 until 1999 it was housed in the Greens Farms School, which offered gallery and performance space as well as studio space for member artists. The town reclaimed the space as the student population increased.
“This important expansion of the Arts Center allows us to greatly broaden the scope of our programming and exhibitions,” said Amanda Innes, WAC executive director.
“We will be able to showcase large-scale, innovative art pieces and installations both in the gallery and on the exterior grounds.”
She said that details of the expansion will be presented at WAC’s 50th anniversary gala set for Saturday, May 18.
“Westport Arts Center is a longtime contributor to Westport’s identity as an arts community and is an important resource to the entire town,” said First Selectman Jim Marpe. “We are excited to see the Arts Center expand to meet the creative demands of our active, artistic town.
“We anticipate that the Arts Center’s new campus will be a regional cultural destination, drawing audiences to Westport from all over Connecticut, Westchester County and New York City,” he added.
In addition to Westport Arts Center’s education, visual arts and concert programs, the expansion will house a cafe, lounge library, “and the ability to host intimate and large-scale events,” Lawless said.
Martha Stewart hand-picked 19 Newtown Turnpike to house her headquarters and television production studios from 1998 through 2004, she added.
Three film studios were designed to replicate rooms in Stewart’s own homes, including a kitchen modeled after her Westport house on Turkey Hill Road South.
Before this, she added, the building had served as storage and light manufacturing for a handful of businesses, including war effort production of munitions and aircraft parts.
