CHOOSING COMMUNITY

Greetings from Next Stage Arts Project,

When I first learned about the opportunity to lead Next Stage Arts, I took a long pause. I was living in New Jersey, with a thriving career and access to all the art and culture anyone could ask for. But something essential was missing: community. Not just proximity—intentional community. The kind built on shared experiences, real conversations, and gathering that nourishes both heart and mind.

I could feel that energy immediately when I visited Next Stage for the first time. The way people lingered in the lobby after a show. The conversations that continued long after the performance ended. The sense that this wasn’t just a venue, it was a space created for connection, reflection, and belonging.

As I step into my first year as Executive Director, our country feels more divided than ever. Everywhere we look, the forces of isolation, fear, and misinformation threaten to separate us—from our neighbors, from our values, from hope itself

And yet, here in Putney, we gather—for world-class performances, local creativity, and the full spectrum of community life—from weddings to memorials, birthdays to T. Rex Tea Parties—continuing the building’s long tradition as a place for people to come together. Showing up for one another is itself an act of resistance. It is how we hold onto our shared humanity in difficult times.

Next Stage is now celebrating its 15th year, and undertaking the first year of its new 5-year strategic plan. We are working to solidify our foundation as an organization, to strengthen the systems and structures that enable this important work to continue. And we cannot do it without you.

Your support is essential to help us:
• Bring artists and diverse perspectives from around the world to our Vermont stage.
• Partner with schools and educators to spark curiosity and creativity in young people.
• Keep our doors open to everyone, ensuring that art and community remain accessible
to all.

Please contribute today to help ensure that Next Stage remains a beacon of joy, reflection, and resistance.

Thank you for being part of this community, and for choosing hope through the arts.

With gratitude and in solidarity,

Executive Director, Next Stage Arts Project

P.S. In celebration of 15 years, we're asking for 150 new donors or increased gifts before year’s end. Please be one of them!

Year End Appeal 2025

Choosing Community

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Team Members