About Us
RIT City Art Space is the College of Art and Design's premiere exhibition and event venue in downtown Rochester, NY.
Featuring art and design exhibitions by RIT students, faculty, alumni and visiting artists, City Art Space also serves as a site for experiential learning for students across RIT’s College of Art and Design and beyond.
History
In 1968, RIT began relocating its original campus from downtown Rochester to Henrietta. By the 1990s, only one building remained. Located at 50 W. Main Street, it was known as “City Center" and housed a handful of remaining RIT offices, the graduate painting studios, and an art gallery. After the building was sold, RIT's footprint in downtown was set to disappear.
In 1999, Gallery r opened its doors on Park Avenue — driven by a small group of art faculty who wanted to keep a connection between RIT students and the downtown art community. The space hosted exhibitions by students, faculty and alumni, operated mainly by RIT's School of Art.
In 2012, Gallery r moved to a new space on College Avenue near Village Gate Square, continuing its mission in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, and widening its programming across the Schools of Art and American Crafts, Design, Photography, Film and Animation, and more.
In 2018, the gallery relocated to the historic Sibley Square building on Liberty Pole Plaza, and rebranded as City Art Space, further expanding its programming and community impact. The space was designed with the help of RIT Interior Design students, and nominated for an Urban Innovation Award by the Rochester Community Design Center. It was also named one of "Rochester's Coolest Spaces" by the Rochester Business Journal.
Today
With its recent relocation to 30 Adventure Place in the heart of downtown Rochester, City Art Space continues its focus on the creative work of RIT students, faculty, alumni, and visiting artists, as well as collaborations with local organizations, museums and collections. Artist talks and panel discussions help foster educational dialogue in art and design, alongside First Fridays, Rochester’s monthly city-wide gallery night.
In the setting of Rochester's Neighborhood of Play, City Art Space is now positioned steps away from The Strong National Museum of Play, along with nearby restaurants, coffee shops, live music venues, and more. RIT student employees gain valuable experience in a dynamic, professional setting, working with artists, assisting with exhibition installation and gallery management.
City Art Space is RIT's only downtown art venue where exhibitions, events, and educational programming are free and open to the public year-round.
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