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After the sale of Thornes Market to new owners in 2006, A.P.E. signed a one year lease to continue it’s programming and events on the Third Floor and to have time to look for a new location in the center of town.
That search resulted in the purchase of Window, LLC, a five story building at 126 Main Street, Northampton, just a few doors down from Thornes Market. A.P.E.’s one year lease with Thornes was over at the end of September 2007 and A.P.E. will leave Thornes the end of January, 2008. A.P.E. will open a new office and begin to develop new programs at Window, LLC, beginning early in 2008.
During its search for a new location in 2006-07, A.P.E. began conversations with other arts organizations, the city and members of the community about the need to keep the arts vibrant in Northampton, in particular, how to keep spaces open and affordable. Identifying different spaces and buildings became part of that conversation and resulted in A.P.E. writing a Feasibility Grant for the Cultural Facilities Fund, a newly created entity through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, to administer state funds awarded to projects devoted to cultural development and advancement. A.P.E. received a $18,750 matching grant to study the feasibility of creating a community arts center in the former Northampton Institute for Savings, located at the corner of Gothic and Main St. in the center of town. A.P.E. was the only recipient of this grant in Northampton!
A.P.E’s concerns revolve around the issue of affordable space for artists to create and show work in the center of town. It is a well known fact that a number of spaces devoted to the arts are in jeopardy at this point in time and A.P.E. is at the forefront of leading the effort to retain, hold and find ways for the community to own buildings for the long term so that the arts can remain an essential part of the fabric of this community. A.P.E. is using the model of the land trust to explore the idea of a community “arts” trust, that would enable the community to purchase and hold spaces in town for arts and culture, thus creating real sustainability for the arts to thrive.
If you would like to be kept informed or would like more information, go the following links and add your name to our mailing list!
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/facilities/facilities.htm
http://www.schumachersociety.org/about.html
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