Bookings underway; inaugural event scheduled for Nov. 10
ROCKPORT, TEXAS (NOV. 4, 2022) — CONSTRUCTION IS NOW SUBSTANTIALLY
COMPLETE ON THE ROCKPORT CONFERENCE CENTER [1] (THE ROCC), AN
8,000-SQUARE-FOOT MEETING AND EVENT SPACE LOCATED ON THE NEW 1.2-ACRE
ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS [2] (RCA) CAMPUS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN
ROCKPORT. THE CITY OF ROCKPORT IS A PARTNER IN THE RCA PROJECT.
THE FIRST EVENT SCHEDULED AT THE ROCC IS THE ROCKPORT FILM FESTIVAL [3],
PRESENTED BY SALEMI’S ACE HARDWARE, NOV. 10–13. THE SOLD-OUT,
TICKETED RED CARPET EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY EVENING, NOV. 10, IN
THE ROCC BALLROOM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THREE DAYS OF FILM SCREENINGS AND
EVENTS ARE ALSO HELD ON-SITE.
LOCATED ONLY STEPS AWAY FROM ARANSAS BAY, THE ROCC OFFERS A VARIETY OF
MEETING SPACE AND AMENITIES, INCLUDING RANDALL EWING KEMPER HALL, A
4,400-SQUARE-FOOT BALLROOM, WHICH CAN BE CONFIGURED INTO FOUR SMALLER
BREAKOUT ROOMS; A 1,300-SQUARE-FOOT FOYER; AND A FLEXIBLE CATERING AND
CULINARY ARTS EDUCATION KITCHEN.
Part of the new $12.5 million RCA campus, which will be home to hallmark
art programs in the adjacent 14,000-square-foot visual arts and
education building slated to open by year’s end, The ROCC is
conveniently within walking distance of shopping, restaurants,
attractions, nightlife, and Rockport Beach on the Texas Gulf Coast.
“OUR NEW, MODERN FACILITIES WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE OUR ART PROGRAMS TO
AMAZING NEW LEVELS WHILE EXPANDING OUR OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE THE CULINARY
AND PERFORMING ARTS, MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS,” SAID
LUIS PURÓN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR RCA. “HAVING THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW
MEETING SPACE ON OUR CAMPUS PROVIDES SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TRULY DIFFERENT. AND ALTHOUGH ROCKPORT PROVIDES
ANY NUMBER OF TOURISM OFFERINGS, WE ARE EXCITED BY THE PROSPECT OF
INCREASING BUSINESS TOURISM TO OUR AREA, WHICH HAS BEEN LACKING UNTIL
NOW.”
Billed as a creative space beginning with the end in mind, events at The
ROCC can be custom designed with each client to create an immersive,
inspirational experience, from smaller corporate conferences, board
meetings and executive retreats to special events, including galas,
weddings, and fundraisers. In addition to the formal event space, a
rooftop terrace in the visual arts building, and the 16,000-square-foot
Patricia Bennett Moore Sculpture Garden, featuring nine sculptural works
by artists with state, national, and international recognition, can also
be utilized.
“This venue is beyond the typical meeting space; we are _the_ boutique
event destination and are here to facilitate incredibly memorable
events, whether it’s for family and friends, or co-workers and
clients,” said Paulette Kluge, venue manager for The ROCC. “The
space is wonderful from a technical aspect and unmatched creatively by
anything in our area. We can do a wedding ceremony in the sculpture
garden, cocktail parties on the upstairs terrace complete with coastal
views, live entertainment with theater-style seating, or team-building
events such as painting taught by local artists.”
RCA contracted with the National Cabling Service of Houston to design and
install a $300,000 structured cabling system providing comprehensive
telecommunications services throughout the RCA campus. Standard
amenities in The ROCC include Wi-Fi throughout, state-of-the-art
audio-visual capabilities, such as built-in cameras for conferencing and
presentations, strategic permanent speaker placement with acoustical
clouds in the ceiling for superb sound, a 13-by-9-foot drop-down
projection screen, and stage lighting. Special attention was also given
to other details of the project including appliances and equipment for
the culinary arts kitchen, as well as furnishings.
While many amenities are included in the rental fee, such as Wi-Fi,
standard AV and support, commercial grade power, tables and chairs,
complimentary parking, as well as set-up/tear-down, The ROCC can also
arrange for or otherwise assist clients with preferred vendors,
including catering, AV/technical, entertainment, local excursions, valet
parking, and lodging, to create the perfect event. In an effort to
consistently provide concierge-level service, The ROCC will limit
bookings to only one event per day.
“The ROCC provides a canvas for groups of all shapes and sizes to
create the masterpiece event they envision,” said Purón. “This is
where they can escape their everyday routines and encounter one another
in new ways: immersed in sunrise vistas, surrounded by thought-provoking
art, stimulated by creative excursions and delighted by local
cuisine.”
About Rockport Center for the Arts
Opening in late 2022, the new 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts is
located a block away from Aransas Bay in the heart of downtown Rockport.
The new state-of-the-art campus features a two-story,
14,000-square-foot, visual arts and education building with four
galleries and five classrooms (204 S. Austin St.); a one-story,
8,000-square-foot conference and event center, known as The ROCC,
including a 4,400-square-foot ballroom and culinary arts kitchen (106 S.
Austin St.); with a 16,000-square-foot Sculpture Garden serving as a
visually inspiring transition space between the two buildings. Hours of
operation for the showroom, galleries, and gift shop will be
Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday from noon–4 p.m.
Admission is always free. For general information, visit
rockportartcenter.com [4], follow RCA on Facebook [5], or call (361)
729-5519. For information on event space, or to book an event, contact
Paulette Kluge at (361) 960-2090.
