The Patten House Project
UPDATE 2011: The Patten House was purchased privately by a local family and will no longer become a cultural arts center. We applaud all time and effort from the Arts Council and local community leaders.
The Patten House Project is a fundraising campaign, spearheaded by the Palatine-Inverness Arts Council. The Arts Council's focus is on fostering cultural, educational and economic growth in the Palatine - Inverness, Illinois area as it relates to the arts.
The Patten House Project is a priority project of PIAC, as it seeks to create a vibrant new visual arts center to serve the needs of families in the region. The Patten House is the ideal site for a visual arts center. Its authentic architecture, important history, and walking distance proximity to the other art centers creates a "cultural campus" within the village, for all to enjoy.
The historic Patten House presides over two acres in Palatine, Illinois. Built in 1898 by Charles H. Patten, a successful banker, who helped shape Palatine in its early years by serving as Mayor in 1894-95.
His grandson, Charles R. Patten, with wife Barbara, lived in the house since 1946. Both were strong community advocates. Barbara's passion was for the arts education, affectionately known as "The Picture Lady" for over 25 years. She discussed art history with students, often displaying pieces from her own collection. Her understated elegance is personified in the architecture's timeless beauty. Charles passed away in 1997, but Barbara continued to live in the house until her passing in 2004.
Today, community leaders have come together for a common cause: to preserve this historic beauty. The vision of the "Patten House Project" is to reawaken this historic place as an inspirational arts center for all to enjoy.
Join us in this journey to create a landmark cultural arts center in the heart of the community.