HOURS:
THURSDAY: 6:00PM – 9:00PM
SATURDAY: NOON – 3:00PM
240 Goundry St.
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
716.694.4400
info@carnegieartcenter.org
STAFF
Program Coordinator
Stanfill Marcus Stanfill
The arts, and arts education, have always been a passion of mine. I grew up in Alaska during the building of the TransAlaska Oil Pipeline, and saw rapid change. The promise of great adventure also attracted great creative talent and I was lucky to have had opportunities to learn and work with some wonderful trailblazers in theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. I feel that kind of excitement from the staff, volunteers, and board members who have breathed new life into the Carnegie Art Center.
The Carnegie Art Center History
Built in 1903 as the Carnegie Library through a gift of $20,000 to the City from Andrew Carnegie, this was the center of town of many years, the reason for its location. It was one of nearly 3,000 libraries built in the United States between 1885 and 1919 with money donated by the wealthy industrialist. It has a beautiful rotunda and two side galleries. The building opened in December 5, 1904. It was built to hold 18,000 books, with large a stained glass skylight providing light during the day and electric lamps lighting the reading rooms at night. The Carnegie served as a public library for over 70 years. It now houses the Carnegie Art Center, operated by the Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts. The building is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Sites.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Carnegie Art Center, directed by the Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts, is to sponsor, promote and encourage the development of contemporary visual and performing arts. Through the presentation of contemporary exhibitions, concerts, performances classes, and other fine art activities, it provides educational and cultural enrichment to the Western New York region.