Albany Center Gallery Finds New Home in Downtown
Albany Center Gallery, the Capital Region gallery at the forefront of showcasing local and regional visual arts for 40 years, has announced it will relocate to the historic Arcade Building, concluding a two-year-long process to find a new location. The 75,000 sq. ft. building, owned by Fairbank Properties, recently completed a $10 million renovation that includes 60 new apartments. In addition to ACG, the Arcade is also home to the second location for Stacks Espresso Bar. The Gallery will occupy approximately 2,050 sq. ft. of space.
“The Arcade, across from Jim Dinapoli Park, symbolizes a new era in Downtown where traditional buildings can be put to new contemporary and modern uses. This will create a home in which artists will be proud to showcase their art, while bringing a new energy to an underutilized landmark,” said Tony Iadicicco, executive director of Albany Center Gallery.
Iadicicco noted that the new location will open opportunities to better connect with Downtown Albany's newest residents and help bridge the arts corridor to other development projects including, the proposed Palace Theatre expansion, soon-to-be-completed Albany Capital Center, and Times Union Center.
“We are proud to welcome Albany Center Gallery as an anchor destination to the building and the emerging Maiden Lane corridor. There should be more collaboration to draw residents and businesses back to downtown,” said David Sarraf, manager of Fairbank Properties.
ACG began to explore a new location starting in 2014 due to a 10-year lease with the United Group ending in November 2016. “We toured over two dozen properties and had offers to move to places such as Troy and Schenectady. We thought it was important to stay in Downtown Albany,” said Brian Tromans, board member and chair of the ACG’s relocation committee. “The United Group has been very supportive throughout our lease. It was not an easy decision to leave 39 Columbia Street, but the Arcade will bring a new chapter for the Gallery’s creative history.”
“We are thrilled that Albany Center Gallery is remaining in the District,” said Georgette Steffens, executive director of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District. “The importance of the arts in our community cannot be overstated, and the Gallery remaining here means the growing number of people who live, work, and play in Downtown will continue to have access to this world-class amenity.”
ACG has sustained its mission and presented high-quality exhibits throughout years of weathering economic uncertainties. The move comes with a savings on rent in the developing area, in which ACG is a cultural anchor. ACG continues to look to different partnerships opportunities within the City of Albany.
In anticipation of the move, ACG is increasing fundraising efforts to help offset the cost of the move.
“We are launching a special ’40 for 40 Club’ campaign in October to honor our 40th anniversary and raise funds for the move. Our Board of Directors has pledged to match up to $8,000 in donations from the community,” said Kevin Dubner, vice president of the ACG Board of Directors. The 40th Anniversary campaign is in conjunction with the Gallery’s Annual Gala, its largest fundraiser of the year, to be held at the Renaissance Albany Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 19. “We hope the community will come out and help us celebrate these important milestones.”
“It’s an exciting time for the Gallery and we can’t wait to invite the community into ACG’s new home in Downtown Albany,” said Iadicicco.
Those who wish to support ACG by making a donation, becoming a member, purchasing Gala tickets, or offer moving assistance, should contact Tony Iadicicco at 518.462.4775 or by visiting albanycentergallery.org.
