The Jay Heritage Center In Rye Receives A $1.5M 'Transformative Gift'

RYE, NY — The Jay Heritage Center (JHC) has announced that it received a "transformative gift" of $1.5 million to open the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III Exhibit and Performance Center at the Jay Estate in Rye.

The JHC says that this landmark donation will help restore and rehabilitate the existing historic Carriage House at the JHC campus, designed in 1906-7 by the notable New York architect Frank A. Rooke. The space has already proven itself ideally suited as a community gathering place for lectures, concerts, art exhibits and more — drawing thousands of visitors from the tri-state area. The Wachenheim family's gift will expand the JHC’s ability to host even more events and attract more world-class musicians and artists.

The building’s rich mahogany ceilings, terracotta brick floors and enameled walls produce the most unique acoustics, according to the JHC. Chamber ensembles from Juilliard and Yale’s Opera Project, in addition to jazz, cabaret and a cappella groups, have previously delighted audiences of 150 and more at this site. The high ceilings and accessible floor plan have made the building perfect for photography and art exhibits as well. The refurbishment will include the finishing of bright, skylit ateliers on the second floor, where invited composers, writers and artists can be inspired.

As with other preservation projects at the Jay Estate, plans for the center will conserve original materials but also incorporate sustainable features wherever possible. The addition of this premiere arts and performance venue to the 23-acre campus is nothing short of visionary and the JHC says they are truly thankful to Sue and Ed Wachenheim for their leadership and generosity.

A celebratory concert with composer, pianist and MacArthur genius grant recipient Matthew Aucoin is planned for March 26, 2023, at 4 p.m.

The Jay Heritage Center (JHC) is dedicated to continuing its transformation of the 23-acre Jay Estate into a vibrant educational campus, hosting innovative and inclusive programs about American history, social justice, architecture and environmental stewardship. They hope to encourage people of all ages to understand, preserve and protect our shared heritage and to inspire the future historians, civic advocates and stewards of our fragile cultural and natural resources. Find out more on the Jay Heritage Center website.