St. Bonaventure’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is midway through its yearlong 30th anniversary celebration, which began in April 2025 and continues through April 2026. Since its opening in 1995, the Quick Center has been a cornerstone of culture and creativity for both the university and Western New York, hosting world-class artists, nurturing local talent, and providing enriching experiences for audiences of all ages.
The celebration officially launched Sept. 21, 2025, with an opening ceremony featuring a performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and a special tribute honoring longtime advocate and major benefactor Marianne (Letro) Laine, ’68.
Concurrently, several of the Quick Center galleries — Front, Dresser, Beltz and Laine — reopened with fresh, thoughtfully curated exhibitions reflecting the center’s vision of artistic excellence, education and cultural connection.
Highlights include a new audio tour in the Beltz Gallery, featuring narrated insight and artist commentary on works from our acclaimed Permanent Collection to engage and inform visitors of all ages. The Laine Gallery honors Indigenous culture through the vibrant work of Seneca artist Carson Waterman. Visitors are also invited to view the moving art of renowned Seneca Nation artist and potter Peter Jones in the Dresser Gallery, where his striking exhibition is being featured.
The staff of the Regina A. Quick Center extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who attended our spectacular fall season events. Your presence at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s opening night, the Robert Grayson & Paul Groves Studio “Postcards from Puccini” opera performance Oct. 17, and the Southern Tier Symphony Holiday Brass concert Dec. 5 made these events an unforgettable start to the center’s celebratory season.
“The incredible turnout and support for our fall events have confirmed that the Quick Center is truly a source of local pride and a vital link to the arts for our communities,” said Dr. Rachel M. Harris, executive director of the Quick Center. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has joined us so far.”
Upcoming Performances
As we look ahead, the Quick Center staff welcomes you to experience the exciting lineup still to come in our 30th Anniversary Performing Arts Series, including both performances and masterclasses:
- Feb. 19, 2026: Galvin Cello Quartet High School Masterclass
- Feb. 20, 2026: Galvin Cello Quartet (Performance)
- March 12, 2026: Willis Delony High School Masterclass
- March 13, 2026: Willis Delony, Classical Piano, Jazz Trio (Performance)
- April 17 & 18, 2026: Shakespeare Abridged (Performance)
- April 18, 2026: Kenan Center Masterclasses
All featured masterclass performances are open to the public — we invite everyone to come and watch!
“As we move into the spring, this remains an exciting moment in our history as we continue to fulfill our vision to revitalize the arts throughout our university, community and region and to establish the Quick Center as a destination for renowned, national and international artists,” Harris said. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Quick Center.” For tickets and showtimes for Quick Center performances, visit www.ticketor.com/quickarts.
The Art of Storytelling
The Quick Center for the Arts invites visitors to experience a new kind of journey through time and beauty with “The Art of Storytelling,” now open in the center’s Beltz Gallery.
This immersive exhibition features an audio tour of the artwork narrated by retired St. Bonaventure theater professor and longtime NPR host Dr. Ed. Simone, who offers commentary and insight on select pieces from the university’s renowned art collections.
The exhibition features more than 50 artists from the 15th through 20th centuries. The audio tour is available online for those unable to attend in person.
The exhibit opens with a portrait of “Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints” by Fra Angelico (1387-1455), one of the great masters of Italian art.
Supported by the generous gifts of Dr. T. Edward Hanley and the Col. Michael Friedsam Collections, the Beltz exhibit brings together centuries of visually expressive and illustrative works that reveal how artists have used their craft to share stories and shape cultural understanding.
We invite you to take the audio tour >> www.sbu.edu/quick-audio-tour.
Support the Quick
The Quick Center is committed to ensuring that high-caliber fine arts remain accessible in Western New York, proving that the appreciation and creation of art should never be limited by a ZIP code or an income bracket. We extend a heartfelt invitation to celebrate our 30th anniversary and the bright future of the Quick Center. If you are interested in celebrating and supporting the 30th anniversary endowment, please visit the Quick Center’s endowment webpage.