by SC Publisher Shannen Hayes
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced on Aug. 27 that it will sell its Captiva property and relocate from the island due to the rising cost of maintaining the 20 acres in challenging environmental conditions.
In recent years, the Foundation has dedicated a significant amount of resources to addressing recurring storm damage, broader climate risks, and rising maintenance costs for the property.
A sustainability assessment confirmed that safeguarding the property would require substantial additional investment and site modifications, without ensuring the property’s long-term resilience or reducing the likelihood of future costs.
The Foundation stated that it has a responsibility to allocate its resources in a manner that sustains a wide range of mission-driven programs. Redirecting funds from Captiva’s upkeep, along with proceeds from the sale, will enable more investment in programs that support artists.
“We recognize it may be difficult to reconcile this responsibility with the deep significance Captiva holds for so many, including the local community,” the statement said.
At the Sept. 9 meeting of the Captiva Community Panel, President David Mintz said that a community committee is forming to explore purchasing the land for preservation, which could include a refuge, public space, and a stormwater retention pond.
While there is no list price, Mintz said the Miami-based broker selling the property indicated it could be between $40 million and $50 million.
He added that the Foundation expressed a preference for the community to purchase the land. Still, he noted that the community is currently in the “exploratory phase,” and more details should be known in the next couple of weeks.
CCP Member Sandy Stilwell Youngquist said she reached out to Lee County about the 20/20 Conservation program, which focuses on acquiring, protecting, and managing environmentally sensitive land with voter-approved grant funds.
“I let them know the property is for sale and there is great interest in preserving it,” she said.
Stilwell was friends with the late Robert “Bob” Rauschenberg, an artist whose work was wide-ranging in subjects, styles, materials, and techniques. The pair bonded over their shared love of preserving Captiva.
“It would behoove all of us to purchase this property to continue his legacy,” said Stilwell. “I think it’s time for us to step up in his honor.”
Rauschenberg purchased his first Captiva property in 1968, but he did not live full-time on the island until 1970. He lived in his Beach House until 1990, when he moved into a home built on the adjacent beachfront lot.
Today, the property serves as the Rauschenberg Residency, a creative center that has welcomed artists of all disciplines from around the world since 2012. It includes an 8,000-square-foot studio that Rauschenberg built in 1992, along with a collection of historic homes and studio spaces.
The Rauschenberg Foundation Board said it will conclude the Residency at Captiva in August 2026. Until then, the program will remain active and operational. The Foundation will also continue to operate its Archives Research Residency program at its New York headquarters.
Additionally, the Foundation stated that it will work to maintain the integrity of the Fish House, the historic 1942 waterfront home on the Captiva property.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to carrying forward the spirit of creativity and community that Captiva nurtured, and will continue to build on Rauschenberg’s ethos of experimentation and reinvention through new forms of artistic support,” the Foundation said.
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