A NO TE FROM DONNA
We are all celebrating this season! After 22 years, Apple Tree Arts finally has a home. We are deeply grateful to the Town of Grafton and to everyone else for your support for the restoration of the beautiful Grafton Town House. We are delighted with the new sense of community we share with our Apple Tree Arts families, both old and new, as we stop and talk in the hallway. We are, of course, thrilled about our new MCFF grant.
From all of us to all of you, wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
From the staff -- Kathy, Jan, Lisa, Dana, Elaine, and me. From the board -- Paul, Cam, Steve, Kris, Laura, Mike, and Connie. From our faculty -- Laurie, Rebecca, Susan, Beth A., Beth H., Theresa, Ingrid, Kim, Linda, Tim, Christine, Russell, Nina, Katia, Myra, Mario, Narine, Paul, Betty, Tina,Monica, and Elizabeth. And from our Advisory Council Chairs -- Ann and Ed. Happy holidays!
Donna Blanchard, Executive Director |
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APPLE TREE ARTS RECEIVES $250,000 GRANT!
 This year the holidays are extra special at Apple Tree Arts, thanks to a $250,000 grant awarded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund. The grant -- part of a total of $7.4 million awarded to 54 nonprofit arts, heritage, and science organizations across the state -- provides major support for the continuing restoration of the Grafton Town House. It will be used to install a limited use/limited access elevator to make the building more accessible to people with disabilities.
"We want music and the arts to be accessible and interwoven with the community," says Donna Blanchard, "not 'the music school on the hill.' This project will also help revitalize the community by providing a gathering place in the center of town."
The grant was announced at a ceremony hosted by Governor Deval Patrick at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston on November 17. Among the attendees were Paul Scarlett, Apple Tree Arts board president, Cam Sowa, vice president, and Donna Blanchard, executive director -- all pictured in the photo, along with Kathy Vandenengel, business director.
"These grants will create new jobs in arts, culture, and tourism," said Governor Patrick. "These investments will allow our cultural organizations to serve the public with quality programs that will enrich our communities for generations to come." The Cultural Facilities Fund fuels a nonprofit creative sector that employs 27,100 people, spends $2.1 billion annually, and generates another $2.5 billion of economic activity across Massachusetts, according to a recent study by the New England Foundation for the Arts.
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HOLIDAY CONCERT AND OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 4!
 Come join us for our wonderful free annual Holiday Concert on the Common on Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 pm at the Congregational Church of Grafton! The program will celebrate the joys of the season in music and song, including traditional carols, a selection of madrigals, lively multicultural selections, and stories.
Our new brass and percussion quartet and the Apple Tree Arts show choir will perform along with our Community Chorus and talented faculty musicians and friends. The concert is part of "Grafton Celebrates the Holidays" sponsored by the Town of Grafton and its Recreation Commission.
Celebrate the season before the concert at the Apple Tree Arts Open House at One Grafton Common, from 12:00 - 2:00 pm. Cider and cookies will be served, and the Brazilian quartet Grupo Mambique will provide some special music. Bring the whole family -- hope to see you there!
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REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER AND SPRING CLASSES!
Our exciting winter and spring semester classes start very soon, and they're filling up fast, so sign up now to reserve your place! Call or click for details.
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SHARE THE JOY WITH A YEAR-END GIFT
Our new quarter-million-dollar grant from MCFF brings Apple Tree Arts nearly 50 percent of the way toward our $2.8 million goal for the Grafton Town House restoration project -- and 80 percent of the way to finishing the accessibility phase of the work. But we still have to raise $1.6 million to finish the accessibility work and the interior restoration while we run our existing operations. Your year-end gift can help! All gifts -- no matter how large or small -- will be deeply appreciated. Thanks from all of us! |
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Craziness broke out in the kingdom when three princes all tried to woo Wed Widing Hood on November 18 at Alternatives in Whitinsville . Here The Fairy Godmother and The Evil Queen pose for our camera. This fun show was performed by children in grades 3-5. |
Children in grades 1-4 rehearsed well for their colorful Halloween mini-musical performances of SQUIRM! featuring the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Daddy Long Legs, Hook Worm, Snake, and a host of other critters...oh my! The shows were presented at St. Philip's Church in Grafton in early November. |
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"I cannot tell you how much our daughter enjoys learning, practicing, rehearsing and performing in your theatre arts programs. It takes special people to do what you do." -- An Apple Tree Arts Parent |
OUR MISSION
The mission of Apple Tree Arts is to enrich the community through the arts, by providing high-quality educational music and theatre arts programs for individuals of all ages. |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul Scarlett, president
Cam Sowa, vice president
Steve Lotterman, secretary
Kristen Graham, treasurer
Connie Hopkins, Mike O'Brien,
Laura Often
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Ed Dinaro and Ann Morgan,
Co-Chairs
Sue Almy, Mark Chapleau, Dave Coleman, Beth Concaugh, Karen Durand, Gary Murray, Rachel Murray, Anne Porcella, Kathy Puccio, Laura Shunney, John Stephens, Lori Dauphinais Trahan, Jen Vacca, Cyndie Webster, and Deanna Wong
STAFF
Donna Blanchard,
exececutive director
Jan Barlow, education director
Kathy Vandenengel,
business director
Lisa Scarlett,
theatre arts director
Dana Wilson, marketing and publicity manager
Elaine Birkholz, writer/editor |
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