Many Hands, Light Work (+ more fun):

We’re prepping for a huge fundraising campaign to “Raise the Barn” and build a center for the arts right in the heart of Barnard! We need YOU and the masses to help our small but mighty team take it to the finish!

We value relationships, opportunities, and connection as much as creativity! We’d love to find the perfect role for you and all who are passionate about helping BarnArts enrich the community for years to come. Maybe you’d like a lead role (chair a committee!), or prefer to join an ensemble (small group plans an event!)? Or perhaps you prefer a backstage task (help us make connections for all types of things, or share your ideas and talents!)? Let us know!

Campaign Background:

BarnArts Center for the Arts was founded in March of 2012 as a grassroots effort to enhance the cultural life of our small rural community. Our slogan, “Building Community through Art”, is the essence of ongoing work to stimulate creativity and challenge expectations through real opportunities to participate in the arts in our community.

We have grown exponentially over the last 14 years, but we have never had our own physical home! Our mighty staff of 4 (Linda, Olivia, Vic and Alex) manage all BarnArts programming from their homes – and run around, a lot (sometimes with 20+ team members, actors and helpers in tow)! We store costumes, tech and set materials and more in 4 different locations around town – and perform wherever we can! It is time for us to bring on the Center for the Arts that has always been part of our name.

Last August – after 3+ years of working out details followed by two public votes – we were granted access to the old fire station in the village of Barnard. (THANK YOU to all who supported the process!) A lease was signed with the town and we have permission to erect our new home!

The Plan: 

Our new 3000+ square foot home and community arts hub will be positioned fabulously right in the middle of Barnard! It’s across from the First Universalist Church that we use regularly, adjacent to the Charles Danforth Library, and within waving distance of the Barnard General Store and our treasured Silver Lake.

The design includes a central office for BarnArts, storage and maker spaces AND a large, lovely community room available for use by other town groups. This room will also function as our main rehearsal space and be used for small performances. Design concepts are almost ready!

Timeline:

ASAP : ) We’ll FUNdraise for the next 12-18 months, then build! Volunteer work can start by this spring or summer, and we’re tentatively planning a groundbreaking for early 2027.

Please reach out for more information or with questions any time! We can’t wait to hear from you.