Greetings from the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire!

Ten years ago the board of what was then a very tiny Arts Alliance made the bold decision to hire a part-time staff person and offer cultural programs to northern New Hampshire towns and schools. This idea was based on the conviction that all residents of our region deserve access to excellent and affordable cultural opportunities right in their own communities, where they live, work and play.

Since that decision was made – with the leveraging power of partnerships and the generous support of funders – we’ve presented more than 1,000 programs in classrooms, town halls, gymnasiums, nursing homes, preschools, and community centers from Plymouth to Pittsburg. We’ve watched North Country children awed by their first encounter with chamber music and enchanted by Franco-American fiddling. We’ve seen them paint murals, build nature trails, meet professional authors and storytellers and write their own stories and poems. We’ve helped community members of all ages learn about daily life in Afghanistan, participate in Irish ceilihs and join in African dance. We’ve provided seniors with hands-on experiences, from movement to drumming; teachers with hundreds of high-quality arts and humanities workshops, conferences, and institutes; and cultural organizations with low-cost professional development gatherings and networking opportunities.

Designing and delivering programs is only one part of our work. Equally important is our role, behind the scenes, as a membership network and clearinghouse, developing partnerships with organizations, businesses and government agencies to support a cultural infrastructure for our region; advocating for our sector; and actively participating in planning and economic development efforts at the local, state and regional levels. We’re increasingly focusing on the power of technology to communicate with our members and colleagues and with local arts supporters and visitors from around the country (see our new Creative Economy blog at http://creativenorthnh.blogspot.com/).

It’s hard to share with you, in so small a space, all the ways we work to fulfill our mission. But it’s easy to tell you why we do it: We love the North Country – its spirit, its beauty, its people, its history, its unique and fascinating towns. We believe in its future. And we also believe in the crucial role the arts and culture can play in building that future – strengthening education, revitalizing the economy, enriching the lives of residents, attracting visitors, and connecting us to each other and our communities. We know that you care, too; this letter is about how you can help.

As we enter a new decade, we are asking you, for the first time, to contribute to this work. Your tax-deductible donation of any size will help sustain these efforts; we also hope you will consider volunteering your time and sharing your ideas. Please give as generously as you can.

With warm wishes,

Frumie Selchen, Executive Director
Lawrence M. Kelly, Board Chair