Next Stage Arts Project
Thanks to all the generous donors that made this project a success!
The Putney Historical Society (PHS) has worked hard to preserve our historic resource, the 1841 church at 15 Kimball Hill, and make it a fully accessible, 21st century venue for performance and community events. The PHS and Next Stage have collaborated over several years in fund raising, planning and operating the new arts venue in the center of Putney. The renovated building has allowed many people to come together at community suppers, Next Stage performances, cooking classes and many other events.
On April 1, 2018 the Putney Historical Society transferred ownership of the former United Church of Putney at 15 kimball Hill to the Next Stage Arts Project. The PHS will continue to maintain office space at Next Stage as well as storage and display space. Next Stage will operate the facility and continue providing excellent performances in music, theater, spoken word and other art forms Putney residents and the surrounding region have come to love.
We are grateful to the many donors to the Capital Campaign to make 15 Kimball Hill a fully accessible, 21st century venue for performance and community events. With your help, we’ve added an egress stair at the rear of the auditorium, an ADA-compliant restroom, and moisture-sealed the crawl space. Alongside Next Stage over the last two years, we’ve put in electrical upgrades, insulation, code work to the furnace room and stairs, a fire alarm system, lighted egress signage, and roof repair, all by local contractors. Next Stage has also greatly improved the upstairs performance space.
The Project had support from many grant programs and foundations: Vermont Arts Council—Cultural Facilities Grant ($12,750, requiring a 50/50 match); Riverledge Foundation ($2000); Vermont Community Foundation ($2000 from the Small and Inspiring Fund and $2500 from the Walter Cerf Community Fund); and the Crosby-Gannet fund ($500). PHS has pledged $5000 of reserves toward the Project; we need to raise another $2K in local donations for our emergency building fund, for urgent repairs in the next few years.
The Next Stage Performing Arts Center Project at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney was an exciting collaboration between two non-profit organizations: the Putney Historical Society (PHS) and Next Stage Arts Project (NSAP) to transform a former historic church in the village center into a fully accessible 21st century performing arts center. The re-invented 1841 building hosts many cultural and community events, drawing crowds to the downtown of Putney and adding vibrancy and support to the downtown economy. After the successful reconstruction and re-opening of the Putney General Store in 2011, this is the PHS’s second project to provide creative solutions to economic and community development for the village of Putney, while preserving historic buildings.
United Church upstairs in 2009 (left) and the same space as a theater in 2011 (right)
The transformation was done in phases:
Phases 1 & 2:
- Restoration of roof & belfry
- New elevator, HVAC & sprinkler system
- New 3-story rear addition with accessible restrooms, theater green room, & conditioned storage
- Opening up/renovation of lobby & community rooms
Theater as re-opened in December 2015
Putney Central School presents its Community Portraits in newly renovated theater (left) and at the December 2015 Breakfast with Santa in the newly re-opened community rooms (right)
Phase 3:
- New commercial-grade community kitchen
- Exterior painting, historic window repair
- Interior painting & trim work
- Theater lighting & equipment upgrade
- Building Maintenance & Programming Reserves
We want to again thank all of the generous donors to this project.