After nearly seven years, the West End Arts Campus will become a reality when the Schweinfurth Art Center and Cayuga Museum of History & Art hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. May 2, 2025. The project is one of the last ones funded by New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative to be completed.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see our vision for the West End Arts Campus come to life,” said Schweinfurth Executive Director Donna Lamb. “The new sidewalks connecting us to the Cayuga Museum and plaza spaces create new opportunities for collaboration and community programming. The new entrance from the Schweinfurth parking lot is a major improvement for accessibility and a longstanding goal. The completion of the West End Arts Campus project sets the stage for an exciting future and will be a vital part of Auburn’s cultural scene.”

“I am thrilled to see the completion of the West End Arts Campus, which will have a transformative effect on our institutions and neighborhood, increasing access to the arts and providing a safe space for all to visit,” said Cayuga Museum Executive Director Kirsten Gosch. “I look forward to the partnership between the Schweinfurth and Cayuga Museum continuing to grow as we offer increased opportunities to experience art, history, and science through a distinct community anchor.”

The journey began in July 2018 when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Auburn’s selection for the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative program. A year later, the West End Arts Campus was selected as the top priority for funding by the DRI Local Planning Committee and allocated $1.9 million by the state.

The $4.7 million project was interrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic and affected by the resulting rise in the cost of materials. The institutions worked with Bero Architecture of Rochester and Environmental Design & Research of Syracuse to develop plans, which were approved by the Auburn Planning Board in August 2023. Rich & Gardner Construction Co, of Syracuse, was selected as the general contractor and ground was broken May 22, 2024.

Work at the Cayuga Museum was completed first, in November 2024. Work included paving a parking lot behind the Carriage House Theater, creating safe, accessible walkways between the Cayuga Museum and Schweinfurth, new plaza spaces, and landscaping.

The major element for the Schweinfurth is a new entrance addition and elevator that provides access from the parking lot, eliminating the need to walk up the driveway to the front entrance. The project also includes better signage, site improvements with pathways connecting to the Cayuga Museum, and additional places for outdoor programming.

The West End Arts Campus will officially open at 1 p.m. May 2, 2025, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the walkway joining the properties on Genesee Street. Following the ceremony, Lamb and Gosch will lead tours of their respective buildings. The following day, both institutions will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a day full of art activities, artists’ talks, and music. The grand opening is free and open to the public.

The West End Arts Campus project is made possible by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, headed by NYS Department of State and administered by NYS Homes & Community Renewal, and the City of Auburn American Rescue Plan Act. Many thanks to the numerous foundations and donors who matched State and City support, including our lead Foundation Funder, the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.