ESD, KeyBank and The Resource Center Announce Grand Opening of KeyBank Art House at Edgewater in Jamestown

August 18, 2023

Riverfront Studio and Gallery Space will Provide Inclusive Arts Opportunities for People with Disabilities

See a picture of Art House at Edgewater here

Empire State Development, KeyBank and The Resource Center today announced the opening of the KeyBank Art House at Edgewater, the new home of The Resource Center’s award-winning art program for people with disabilities in Jamestown. The Art House at Edgewater was developed on property The Resource Center owns on Eighth Street in Jamestown, adjacent to TRC’s Edgewater Day Habilitation Program that opened in 2020. An existing 1,700-squarefoot structure was renovated to create the Art House at Edgewater. The facility will offer a variety of classes including painting, drawing, mixed media and ceramics. A gallery space will allow those participating in the art classes to showcase their work. See a picture of Art House at Edgewater here. For more information, visit https://edgewaterarthouse.com/.

“Broadening access to art can change lives, and communities, for the better. The KeyBank Art House at Edgewater is a unique redevelopment project that provides an inclusive artist hub for individuals with disabilities and enriches everyone involved,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “It also reflects Governor Hochul and the City of Jamestown’s ambitious efforts in waterfront revitalization and community development, aimed at creating a vibrant, mixed-use, residential, commercial and recreational river corridor.”

“KeyBank is so proud to support the KeyBank Art House at Edgewater and the award-winning art programs it will provide to individuals with disabilities in Jamestown and the surrounding communities,” said Chiwuike Owunwanne, KeyBank’s Corporate Responsibility Officer. “The Art House will be a wonderful opportunity to allow people to express themselves and tap into their creative thinking. We look forward to the positive outcomes it will bring to Jamestown for years to come.”

“We are excited to formally unveil the KeyBank Art House at Edgewater,” said Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Chief Executive Officer. “Today represents the culmination of our long-held dream to give more people with disabling condition the opportunity to express themselves through art. We are grateful to KeyBank and First Niagara Foundation, Empire State Development, the City of Jamestown, and everyone else who helped make this facility possible. We can’t wait to see the amazing art that will be created in this beautiful space, and we look forward to partnering with other local entities to expand access to the arts in the community.”

The Art House at Edgewater project cost was $677,199. Major funding for the project came from KeyBank and First Niagara Foundation, which jointly provided $225,000. The ESD provided a $134,440 Regional Council Capital Fund grant to The Resource Center for its project. Additional funding was provided by The Lenna Foundation and Filling the Gap, Inc. Officials of The Resource Center are grateful for the financial support that made the project possible. It cited the fact that the agency’s employees and board members, plus their family and friends as well as the families of people with disabilities who receive supports from The Resource Center, contributed more than $50,000 to the project.

The project’s architect was LaBella Associates. The lead contractor was Hayes Construction Services.

The Art House at Edgewater is situated on the waterfront of the Chadakoin River on Eighth Street, adjacent to the Riverwalk and across from McCrea Point Park. This location is a favorite destination for waterfront path walkers as well as those using the park for recreation and or for boating and fishing on the lake. The location will also allow indoor/outdoor classes to be held on a patio overlooking the waterfront.

Art has been a hobby and a passion of people with disabilities at The Resource Center since the agency began offering educational classes in 1959. Art has remained an important facet of The Resource Center over the years, and, since 2007, collaborations with area arts organizations and independent artists have broadened the center’s class offerings to encompass painting, mixed media, dance/movement, drama, music and song writing. The overwhelmingly positive response has resulted in staff additions and growth in class sizes and offerings, including individually tailored classes for people who need carefully structured environments and supports. What began as simple painting projects has grown into ceramics, clay, printmaking, jewelry-making and more.

Until now, The Resource Center’s art program had been based within a state-certified day habilitation program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and only people enrolled in the day program could participate in art classes. With the establishment of the KeyBank Art House at Edgewater, other people with developmental disabilities and people with behavioral health challenges will be able to take art classes. In addition, The Resource Center looks forward to collaborating with schools and area arts organizations, as well as making art classes available to community members.

Senator George Borrello said, “The KeyBank Art House at Edgewater is a wonderful addition to the community and a beautiful creative space that will allow The Resource Center to take its award-winning art programming to the next level. For those with disabilities, the opportunity to create and present their artistry is life-enhancing and this facility will expand those opportunities. My deepest thanks go out to KeyBank, Empire State Development and all the many organizations and individuals that gave generously to bring the Art House to life. It will be a treasured part of our community for years to come.”

City of Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said, “I am excited to see this redeveloped waterfront space provide an inclusive artist hub for individuals with disabilities, as well as the community at large. This project adds to the strong momentum of further development of the Chadakoin River that will attract small businesses, entrepreneurs, visitors to the area, and will continue to support the progress of economic development and improvements in the quality-of-life for the residents of Jamestown.”

About The Resource Center

The Resource Center has been supporting people with disabilities and their families in Western New York since 1958. The Resource Center also provides a range of health services that are available to anyone in the community. In addition, The Resource Center performs subcontracting work to local industry and the federal government at manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Jamestown. For more information, visit www.resourcecenter.org.

About KeyBank

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $195 billion at June 30, 2023.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Translation Services