In 1997, a group of dedicated artists and community members gathered around a kitchen table, planning and pledging their time. That night, they gathered just enough money to apply for a nonprofit license and placed it in a fishbowl. From this humble beginning, The Arts Center began.

In 2000, responding to an appeal from then-Mayor Ray Lonick, the organization launched a mural project to mask the scrap yard greeting visitors to Orange as they approached from Rt. 20 South. The project included artists, school children and construction provided in partnership with the Town of Orange. Local businessman and former Mayor Bob Morin offered a 10,000 sq. ft. building on Main Street as a work space to complete the project.

Witnessing the cooperative effort, Morin leased his building to The Arts Center for one dollar a year and promised it as a posthumous gift. This was a promise his family kept, gifting the building in 2009. We renovated approximately 3,000 sq. ft. with the major support of board member Louisa Bradford, and began operations there in early 2001. Since that time, we have dramatically expanded our programs and our audience.

As we look ahead to many more years of celebrating art in our community, we also reflect on our beginnings: a fishbowl, a dream, and a really fun party.