WELCOME

ABOUT THE JAC

The mission of the Jamestown Arts Center is to engage, enrich, and inspire through extraordinary arts and educational experiences.

The JAC is a community-driven organization founded by artists and dedicated to fostering creativity in all its forms. Education is our cornerstone, offering hands-on experiences that empower individuals to develop artistic skills, explore creative expression, and engage with world-class art.

The JAC is a dynamic arts organization dedicated to fostering creativity, artistic excellence, and community connection.

The JAC empowers artists to develop and share their work. Our exhibitions, programs, and classes provide transformative arts experiences to all ages.

JAC Staff

Board of Directors

Didi Suydam, Chair
Jody Saarmaa, Vice Chair
Barry Eyre, Treasurer
Kate Barber, Secretary
Hugh Balloch
Diane Harrison
Courtney Hunter
Kara McKamey
Devi Ross
Marie Samuels

History

The JAC was established in 2008 by a group of women artists who recognized the community's need for a dedicated space for the arts. They believed in the power of art to transform lives. This committed group became the organization’s founding board members and in February, 2008 launched a capital campaign to purchase and renovate the JAC’s future home at 18 Valley Street. The former boat repair shop was transformed by Estes/Twombly Architects into a sprawling 5,000 square foot facility with three studio spaces, a welcoming lobby and two gallery spaces. Since the JAC opened our doors in 2010, our mission has been to engage, enrich and inspire through extraordinary arts and educational experiences.

The JAC advocates for artistic engagement and development, offering exhibitions, programs, and hands-on classes and workshops. Through these efforts, we support cross-disciplinary projects that connect artists with cultural initiatives and extend resources to communities and organizations across Rhode Island and Southern New England. The JAC has quickly become a leading arts and cultural hub for Rhode Island and beyond, where creativity, ideas, and innovation flourish. 

Today, the JAC hosts art exhibits, theatre and dance performances, film festivals, live music, and provides art education for people of all ages. Programming partners include: Heifetz International Music Institute, FirstWorks, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, FabNewport, Rhode Island School of Design, The MET School, Out of the Box Studio and Gallery, Downtown Design Gallery, Sunlight Studios, Looking Upwards, NewportFILM, Newport Live, Manhattan Short Film Festival, SENE Film Festival, Motion State Arts, Island Moving Company, The Jamestown Lawn School and Melrose School, Jamestown Historical Society, The Brown/Trinity Rep M.F.A. in Acting & Directing Program and many individual artists and local organizations.

The JAC has won 6 of Rhode Island Monthly's 'Best of Rhode Island' awards, including the Editor's Pick for Outdoor Art in 2021 and 2022.

Founding Board Members & Executive Director: Kate Petrie, President; Elizabeth Congdon, Vice President; Vivi Valentine, Vice President; Dianne Grippi, Vice President; Joce Donaghue, Secretary; Dori Hirsch, Treasurer; Anne Livingston, Treasurer; Abby Campbell-King; Lisa Utman Randall, Executive Director.

As one of our founders, Vivi Valentine so eloquently said, “The founders believed in the idea, mission and goal of the need for a ‘home for the arts’ in Jamestown. They put their personal lives aside and worked tirelessly as a passionate, committed, collaborative group in order to achieve this goal. They used every resource at their disposal in order to make this happen. They used every skill they had and enlisted those outside the board for those they did not. This group of women became a community working toward one common goal. Their original motto kept them going: We believe Art Transforms Lives.”