Victor, NY—The next chapter in Ganondagan’s centuries-old story is about to begin and the public is invited to attend. On Monday morning, September 16, at 11:00 am, shovels will go in the ground for the new Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site, fulfilling a 30-year vision for a year-round interpretive facility to tell the compelling story of more than two millennia of Seneca and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) contributions to art, culture, and society.
Daniel Rundberg (Cayuga), president of the Board of Trustees for the non-profit Friends of Ganondagan, spoke of the importance of the partnership with Ganondagan State Historic Site to raise project funds. “We are extremely grateful for the hard work our building and capital campaign committees have put into making the Center a reality. The partnership between the Friends and the Ganondagan State Historic site is supported by hundreds of volunteers, members, and foundations. We thank them and look forward to their continued support of our plans for a robust year-round programming schedule once the center opens.”
Totaling 17,300 square-feet, the Seneca Art & Culture Center is scheduled for a tentative 2015 opening. The new center will enable the State Historic Site, for the first time in its history, to become a full-time educational, cultural, and tourist destination for visitors from around the world.
“I’m elated that, at long last, we are breaking ground for the new center,” said Ganondagan Site Manager G. Peter Jemison. “Early measures of support came from both the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Seneca Nation, and for that I am truly grateful.” Jemison also noted the excitement for the project by the Seneca people. Funding partners include New York State, the Seneca Nation, and corporate, foundation, and private funders.
Local and state dignitaries will be in attendance, including representatives from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, as well as the Seneca Nation, funders and supporters. The public is invited to attend the event. Visit http://ganondagan.org/pdf/SACC-Groundbreak-Invite.pdf for an interactive invitation.
The center’s design architect is Francois DeMenil Architects of New York City and the architect of record is DeWolff Partnership Architects (Rochester, NY and Cleveland, OH). The Seneca Art & Culture Center will be built by the Rochester-based Pike Company in collaboration with the Seneca Construction Management Corporation (Irving, NY).
