RPAC Art Center and Academy opened its doors in July of 2019. The owner and founder Dee Dee Colabella had envisioned a place where artists could have access to continuing education, work spaces, studio space to display and hang their work, and an online storefront to sell it. 

RPAC offers a fun and creative environment that allows artists and students alike a place to express their creativity. Students learn from talented instructors with years of real-world experience while working in a space surrounded by professional artists. This kind of learning environment gives students quality guidance and instruction that helps them grow immensely as future artists and designers. Art students can be of any age or skill, and we have mentored kids as young as 8 years old as well as adult students who are interested in learning a new passion.

In 2024, we moved our operation to 410 Main Street, next to Tazza Cafe. If you’ve driven on Main Street in Ridgefield, you may have already seen our students painting or drawing in the window. Even late at night, you may have seen an artist working under the warm glow of evening lights through the large storefront windows. In the back of the building, our team can be found working on the next round of classes, the next 068 Magazine issue which promotes the arts and culture of the area, or the next art show or exhibition at D.Colabella Fine Arts. Beyond that, we are heavily involved with the installation projects in town such as the KICKS Art Event, or the BowWOW Art Dogs. With everything we do, we focus our energy to encouraging art for everyone in our beloved community.