Spring Tea and Luncheon on Saturday: Limited Tickets available!

4th Annual Spring Tea and Luncheon

May 20, 2017 @ 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM at Union Episcopal Church

Limited tickets still available, come join us to benefit WCCMA’s community and youth programming. Join us for a family friendly event including a delicious luncheon, tea, activities, music, games, prizes, and more! Don’t forget to bring your spring hat for the hat parade.

More information

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Also coming up: InterArts Summer Camp

July 11, 2017 @ 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Union Episcopal Church

Registration deadline extended, register now to the the early bird discount! A Multidisciplinary program for artists of all types, and a new take on our Summer Camp program from last year. Come together to create art and music! Whether you want to be a soloist or help behind the scenes, there’s a way for you to be a part of the show. For middle through high school students. Outstanding essays are eligable for a discount towards your registration fee, which will be refunded towards your registration if you paid in advance. If you would like to be considered for a fee waiver or other payment options please use the “Free” registration option.

For Information and PDF Application: www.wcc-ma.org/InterArts

WCCMA’s InterArts Summer Camp is an opportunity for students with an interest in the arts to come together to explore, learn, and create for 3 weeks over the summer. Participants will collaborate to form a multi-disciplinary performance for the public which will be shaped and guided by their talents. Tuesday and Thursday for 3 weeks in July participants will work together to create a vaudeville show that will be performed at the end of the third week.

More information

Diamond Arts Heroes: Become a member; upcoming art and music programs

We’ve been quiet over here for a while, but we’ve missed all your smiling faces. January and February are the planning and grant writing months for WCCMA, but now things are starting to get rolling!

NEW! Become a MEMBER, and get great perks

There are big things coming for WCCMA, and among them is the start of our 10th Season. Can you believe it has been 10 years since the Summer Concert Series began? In honor of the big things to come, we are asking you to help us make magic. Please consider becoming a WCCMA member today. We have special prizes for the first 5 people who sign up as members (if you are mailing in your membership, just send us an email and we’ll get you entered).

We were hoping this roll out would be all celebration, but with recent news about the federal blue print budget we find that these membership will become even more important.  We have been concentrating on a pretty huge expansion coming down the road (we can’t tell you just yet what the details are; you’ll hear more later this year), but if the National Endowment for the Arts is eliminated WCCMA will be hurt badly. As it stands, in 2016 WCCMA received 18% of it’s annual budget from funds connected to the NEA (through grants from the NH State Council on the Arts, and the New England Foundation for the Arts). Nearly all of that money was for youth education programs like our annual taiko residency and music lessons for kids. This year we have, or will, apply for more than double that program funding. That is a pretty huge gap to hurdle. For context, here’s a breakdown of our income sources by percentage that were used to provide programs for 2500+ people, and support 155 artists:

2016 Actual Budget

Business Sponsorships: 18%
Program donations (donations at the door): 9%
Private donations: 9%
Grants and Corporate Contributions: 54%
Fundraising: 11%

If even half the supporters on our mailing list signed up for standard memberships that would go a long way towards helping to preserve the programs you love during this milestone year.

The good news is that we have some swag, so the first 5 new membership registrants will also receive a free gift. It could be a logo bag, a T-Shirt, or some artwork made by workshop participants. Your first chance to use your membership benefits is coming up this month, followed by several more.

 

Here’s what’s coming up

Folk Art Painting Workshop (3 weeks of sessions)

March 26, 2017 @ 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Union Episcopal Church Hall

Paint your own “funky” wooden organ pipe in the folk art style. Instructor Ernie Perry will lead participants through the process of selecting designs, sketching your idea on the organ pipe, and painting it to it’s final form. The finalpiece makes great wall art for you home.

Classes will be in 3 session:
March 26 at 1:00pm
April 2 at 1:00pm
April 9th at 1:00pm

We are committed to providing access to the arts for all, and not having registration costs be a barrier to participating. Tuition Aid is available upon request, register below and contact [email protected]

More information

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HopStop: Akwaaba Traditional African Drum and Dance Ensemble

April 8, 2017 @ 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Claremont Savings Bank Community Center

The Akwaaba Ensemble brings African drumming and dance to vivid life with the rhythms and styles of different tribal groups from West Africa. The ensemble is led by master percussionist and teacher Theophilus Nii Martey who began studying traditional African music during his childhood in Ghana. The Akwaaba Ensemble’s energetic and engaging performances are a reflection of their name, which means “Welcome” in the Akan language of Ghana. Feel free to get up and move!

More information

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HopStop: Dancers’ Corner

May 13, 2017 @ 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Claremont Savings Bank Community Center

This White River Junction, VT, dance studio presents dancers of all ages performing their best moves in ballet, jazz, hip hop and more. A fun and easy introduction to the joys of dance for the very young—try it out for yourself and dance along.

More information

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Save the Date! Annual Spring Tea and Luncheon – May 20, 2016 Stay tuned for more information

The Firehouse 6 is back! Sunday at 2pm

Our holiday concert with the Firehouse Six Dixieland Band included some festive banjo

Our holiday concert with the Firehouse Six Dixieland Band included some festive banjo

Join the tradition of Dixieland, and Holiday Tunes with a Dixie Twist! This Sunday at 2PM, the boughs will be hung, the lights will be lit, and the cookies will be baked for our annual event. We’ll have guest student performers, as well as a silent auction and raffle with artisan goods to benefit WCCMA. Admission is by freewill donation. Hope you can join us!

Click here for full details.

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Also coming up:

Sing! A Joyful Christmas
December 22nd, 6:30PM
Raise your voice in song at this traditional sing along featuring performances by Kirsten Becker, piano; Angela Biggs, soprano; Melissa Richmond, flute, and special guest Daisy Scouts. The event will include a range of music from Frosty and Rudolph, to the Nutcracker and Joy to the World.