The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has announced it has awarded eighteen General Project Grants for Community Engagement. The program helps not-for-profit organizations, Main Street Programs, municipalities and schools bring arts presentations and activities into communities, enhancing the quality of life for citizens, attracting visitors and helping stimulate local economies through the arts.

The Division of the Arts is a publicly funded agency within the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources. It began in 1965 with legislation designed “to insure that the role of the arts in the life of our communities will continue to grow and play an ever more significant part in the education and welfare of our citizens.” Funding comes from state appropriations, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Conservation License Plate fund. Learn more at nh.gov/nharts.

The West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts’ (WCCMA) award funds performers from NYC and California appearing during the winter season, support for their 9th year of the Summer Concert Series at Union Church, and a variety of youth arts programs throughout the year. WCCMA is well-known in the region for their at times eclectic programs centered around fostering local talent, celebration exceptional artists, and providing access to some of the great performers and creators of our day. This particular grant supports everything from Irish traditional music and classical, to military band music and education. Last year these programs drew support from sponsors and foundations across New England, including the NHSCA, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation, Claremont Savings Bank Foundation, Mascoma Savings Bank, Lake Sunapee Bank, Casella Waste Systems, and with advertising support from the E-ticker News of Claremont.

WCCMA begins their 9th Season of the Summer Concert Series at Union Church this summer with an exciting program featuring a multitude of musical styles. The full season will be announced this spring, as will a variety of new arts workshops and education programs. Founded in 2008, and serving the Claremont region, WCCMA host programs at the Union Episcopal Church, the Moody Building, and the CSB Community Center.

Residents cite some of their favorite activities at the Summer Concert Series, the annual Japanese taiko drumming program, and the Claremont HopStops Family shows (a collaboration with the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth college’s Community Venture Initiative, and Claremont Parks and Recreations.) Programs are free or by donation so that all in our community have access to the arts. Through the success of these programs and mission, WCCMA and founding Executive Director Melissa Richmond were recognized in 2015 by Governor Maggie Hassan and given the 2015 Governor’s Arts Award of Distinguished Arts Leadership.

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! This will be the final post in our Season of Thanks Series, we hope that you have enjoyed revisiting all that we have accomplished together. As we begin the new year, we would like to encourage you to make a donation to support these programs, help us start this year knowing we can offer even more in 2016. 2015 was a triumphant year, but there were several junctures where we nearly had to suspend funding for our youth programs. Thanks to major contributions by the Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation, Union Episcopal Church, and the NH Episcopal Diocese we will be able to continue funding our programs for at least 6 months from today. Together those organizations contributed over $10,000 to support education, and the broader WCCMA YAE programs (including Taiko Drumming, the Bach Tree, instrument loaning, and new program development). With that $10,000 we deliver over $50,000 in services to the community, but with your help we can do so much more.

Roger Smith, of New London, right, and Jason Beaudry, of Claremont, second from right, applaud as from left, Melissa Richmond, Mariauna King and Hayley Valdivia, finish a Christmas song at the Revolution Cantina in Claremont, N.H. Wednesday, December 23, 2015. King joined Richmond and the WCCMA flute ensemble for flute Christmas caroling at several locations around downtown Claremont. (Valley News – James M. Patterson)

Just this Sunday the Valley News featured Mariauna, a student in our program. They featured more than a page of photos and an article on Mariauna and her experience with WCCMA’s program. They followed her through a couple weeks of music making, and talked to her about how important music and the YAE program has been for her. You can check out the article here. Mariauna joined our private lesson program this summer, due in part to a $250 donation by Claremont Financial Services, and to all those who contributed to our spring and summer fundraising efforts where we raised over $1,000. Since then just though WCCMA she has been able to have weekly music lessons, perform at our fall student recital and the Firehouse 6 Holiday performance, participate in a flute ensemble, attend a masterclass with Peter Bloom, and carol with other students in downtown Claremont. We would like to help more students like Mariauna, but we can’t do that without your help. Our program from 2015 to present has provided assistance to 6 families, helped facilitate lessons for 6 additional families, and provided supplemental in school group instruction to 15 students. We have requests for support, lesson space, and instructors from at least 10 additional families waiting for funding or supplies (such as our need for a new performance piano) to come through.

It is our hope to achieve all that and more, and we hope that you will consider making a donation in any amount to help.

Thank you for making 2015 such a wonderful year filled with music, art, and inspiration for our students, yourself, and your neighbors. We are looking forward to an amazing new year, with a busy 2016 to come. Our first event for 2016 with be Music for Syria: a benefit for refugees on January 12, 7:30. Here’s to a great year!

WCCMA Executive Director with Gov. Maggie Hassan and Roger Brooks, accepting the Governor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Arts Leadership for 2015. With thanks to the NH State Council on the Arts.