To The Editor:
I commend Paul Hicks for his excellent “Storied History of the RAC Site” (May 23, 2025). I would like to add this addendum to his account.
After a brief sojourn at 51 Milton Road, The Rye Art Center was forced to vacate the premises. Identification of problems with the building’s infrastructure and inability to conclude an affordable, equitable solution with the city led to the center’s eviction, along with the other tenants, in 1984. For the following three years, RAC became “a nomadic center without walls,” holding classes in 15 locations throughout Rye, reaching thousands of participants in classes and other programs. It even participated in the 1984 Festival on the Green.
Building on the vision of the founders, the RAC board, staff, and spirited supporters mounted an aggressive public, media, and municipal campaign — the 51 Milton Campaign — which raised awareness and funds to restore and refurbish the old building, which re-opened in 1987.
Coincidentally but also providentially, The Rye Performing Arts Council, located at Rye High School, faced similar problems with its physical plant and was unable to create an adequate space for its theatrical presentations. After intense but congenial negotiations, a merger of the two organizations was formed: The Rye Art Center was renamed The Rye Arts Center in 1987.
The success of the 51 Milton Campaign and the merger with the performing arts council brought the newly constituted organization into even greater community awareness and led to the burgeoning of new and enhanced arts programming, laying the foundation to continue RAC’s efforts to bring quality arts programming and enthusiastic community spirit to Rye and its neighbors.
—Gail Harrison Roman, PhD Historian, The Rye Arts Center
Letter: A Twist in the RAC’s History
To The Editor:
I commend Paul Hicks for his excellent “Storied History of the RAC Site” (May 23, 2025). I would like to add this addendum to his account.
After a brief sojourn at 51 Milton Road, The Rye Art Center was forced to vacate the premises. Identification of problems with the building’s infrastructure and inability to conclude an affordable, equitable solution with the city led to the center’s eviction, along with the other tenants, in 1984. For the following three years, RAC became “a nomadic center without walls,” holding classes in 15 locations throughout Rye, reaching thousands of participants in classes and other programs. It even participated in the 1984 Festival on the Green.
Building on the vision of the founders, the RAC board, staff, and spirited supporters mounted an aggressive public, media, and municipal campaign — the 51 Milton Campaign — which raised awareness and funds to restore and refurbish the old building, which re-opened in 1987.
Coincidentally but also providentially, The Rye Performing Arts Council, located at Rye High School, faced similar problems with its physical plant and was unable to create an adequate space for its theatrical presentations. After intense but congenial negotiations, a merger of the two organizations was formed: The Rye Art Center was renamed The Rye Arts Center in 1987.
The success of the 51 Milton Campaign and the merger with the performing arts council brought the newly constituted organization into even greater community awareness and led to the burgeoning of new and enhanced arts programming, laying the foundation to continue RAC’s efforts to bring quality arts programming and enthusiastic community spirit to Rye and its neighbors.
—Gail Harrison Roman, PhD Historian, The Rye Arts Center
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