To the Editor:
A cultural treasure in Wilton is no more. The G&B Cultural Center, formerly located at 49 New St. in the 1915 Gilbert & Bennett School building — part of the Georgetown historic district at the junction of Wilton, Redding, Weston and Ridgefield and owned by the Town of Wilton since 1974 — served artists and art lovers since 2008. The mission of the Center was to provide a full range of cultural experiences for people of all ages and abilities in the community by offering a venue for instructional classes, performances, visual arts exhibitions, and cultural events. Over the years, it did just that. Local artists used the former classrooms as studios, different creative workshops were open to members of the public, and interesting and unique events for adults and children were pursued through collaborations among artists, arts supporters, and various organizations.
As reported in the Wilton Bulletin (“Cultural center a gem in Georgetown,” May 7, 2018), “Walk through the front door and you realize you are in the local version of art heaven. Original paintings and sculptures line the walls and floor of the exhibition space.” Yes! Many visitors were in art heaven, too, when they passed through the orange doorway of this former schoolhouse and unique cultural oasis. Walking into the Center for the first time was a breathtaking experience, surrounded by so much inspiration and creativity. The artworks were too numerous to count and included every conceivable form, style, and genre.
Though it did not function quite like a gallery in the usual sense, the Center was awarded the title of Best Art Gallery in the county by the Connecticut Insider for 2024, having been nominated and selected before its sad demise. That’s how much visitors loved to come and browse the vast collection of varied art pieces on display. This font of creativity garnered the attention of art lovers throughout the region.
But, sadly, it had not garnered more attention from Wilton decision makers. The town-owned landmarked building was allowed to deteriorate, rendering it unsafe for occupancy. This cultural treasure was lost in September 2024, owing to town priorities.
It still lives on in the memories of so many regional artists and art lovers who revered it for its value to the community and uniqueness as a gathering place for those seeking inspiration. We are so glad to have known it. The cultural center may be gone, but it is not too late for Wilton to save this precious architectural gem in its possession.
Thank you, Pat Hegnauer, for serving as director of the G&B Cultural Center for so many years and supporting the regional artist community with dedication and kindness.
Ray Bigelis
Newtown
Elisa Marmer Milkes
Ridgefield
Editor’s note: On Aug. 29, 2024, the Wilton Health Department deemed the Gilbert & Bennet School building unsafe to occupy, forcing the occupants — tenants of the G&B Cultural Center — to vacate the property. The Georgetown Community Association has disputed the Town’s handling of the situation, and tried to raise awareness of the controversy over the building — launching a new membership drive, an email campaign, and a change.org petition. First Selectman Toni Boucher has said the Town has no binding legal obligation to maintain the building as a community center and has expressed openness to selling the property, publicly stating she does not believe Wilton can afford all of the repairs the building needs. However, officials have said as recently as January 2025 that there is “no active interest” from potential buyers. At the time, Boucher told GMW, “My primary concern is that whoever is interested [in buying G&B] would need to preserve the historic character of the building and have the funds to fix it.”