Rome Art And Community Center

Art & Furnishings

When the house was finished in 1923, Mr. & Mrs. Carpenter hired the world famous art collector, Joseph Duveen, to appropriately furnish its interior. The local community was witness that summer to a parade of trucks bringing priceless court cupboards, 17th Century chairs, wall hangings, floor coverings and other antique furnishings and art treasures from New York. Mr. Duveen was given license to try each piece for its overall appearance and fitness; he returned some pieces to be replaced by others until the total suited the decorator’s taste.

The final furnishings, (a few pieces of which still remain), the walls and plank flooring were all coordinated to avoid a sense of newness. Fine paintings included a hall painting from the Canaletto School, which still hangs in the building. The oak-paneled library contained an outstanding book collection displayed on shelves which covered two walls from floor to ceiling. An antique gate-leg table, circa 1650, presently in the dining room, was at the center of the room. This library room was the favorite room for entertaining family and friends over cocktails and demitasse.

Community Significance

Surrounding the beautiful Carpenter home were well-planned gardens and lawns. The lawn immediately north of the house was maintained as a putting green since the Carpenters were avid golfers. The extreme north side of the property, when the Carpenters were resident, had an enclosed area that included a lily pond surrounded by jack-in-the-pulpits, lady’s slippers, ivy and rare botanical specimens. A number of dogwood trees planted at that time continue to flourish, even though Rome is at the most northern latitude that these trees can grow. The property’s enormous east lawn has huge bearded firs and at the northeast corner is a rare magnolia. Missing now due to blight are the stately vase-shaped elms that shaded the area where neighborhood boys played football in uniforms given to them by Mrs. Carpenter. A favorite birthday celebration for Mrs. Carpenter was a party for these same children. Mrs. Carpenter was herself an amateur artist and had studied in New York City. Her studio on the third floor was replete with its “north window”. We remember particularly her interest in painting circus clowns and an array of easels, oils and partially completed works, most of which included people. She produced a few pieces of sculpture and wrote two small books, “Friends of the Road” and “The Besieging Spirit.” After the deaths of Arthur and Grace Carpenter, the City of Rome bought the property in 1966 for the purpose of housing the nonprofit organization, Rome Art And Community Center.

Today

Rome Art And Community Center, (RACC) Rome’s only multi-arts facility, serves greater Rome and Oneida County, offering both cultural and community programming at little or no cost to the public. RACC welcomes almost 15,000 visitors annually, from other counties and visitors from all across the US. RACC is committed to making programming accessible to all-regardless of age, race, economic status, or physical ability. Embracing community impact, true to its mission, RACC plays an important role in fostering creativity, cultural awareness, and a strong community connection through a broad range of programming and services. RACC offers unique opportunities to experience the arts on a very personal level, whether it be through hands-on instruction, a quiet walk through serene gallery space, or even as a part of a large community event. RACC is proud to have been a part of the Rome Community since 1967, and impacting the lives of children, teens, and adults every year since.

RACC Staff has been privileged to experience exactly how programming has made a difference in the community. A parent of a small child described how our children’s art program has helped her son make friends, become more outgoing and confident in school, improved his grades, and fostered his artistic skills and imagination. Rome Art And Community Center is also a home-away-from-home for hundreds of artists each year- whether they exhibit their works in the galleries, attend fine arts workshops or perform here.

Center Operations

RACC is operated by a paid staff, with the assistance of volunteers, and governed by a supportive Board of Trustees. The facility is owned by the City of Rome and is open to the public during business hours. The Center relies on the generosity of the community and its members to fund daily operations through donations and membership fees. The City of Rome, state and county grants, programming income, and foundation grants are also sources of operating funds.