Opera House Arts Receives Accolades and Matching Grant from MCF
The Opera House is part of the Maine Community Foundation's celebration of its 25th anniversary!
OHA has been awarded a $25,000 challenge grant to create an endowment fund as part of a new program, the "25/25 Endowment Challenge Program," initiated by the foundation as part of its anniversary celebration. Over the next 18 months, OHA must raise $25,000 in matching funds to receive this funding: when we do, we will have the beginnings of a much-needed endowment to ensure we can continue to meet our mission, keeping the Opera House and its creative economy programs alive on Stonington's Main Street for generations more to come. Endowment funding and planned giving, which are about future sustainability, are incredibly important to OHA's continued success at this critical moment in our nation's history.
In another 25th anniversary program, MCF also named OHA one of the six top "community building" organizations in Hancock County. Such recognition means a lot to us as strengthening our community is central to OHA's programs and mission. We are very pleased to share this recognition with our colleagues at Penobscot East Resource Center here in Stonington; Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport; Schoodic Arts for All in Winter Harbor; and two other Hancock County organizations.
Help Opera House Arts Celebrate 10 Years
In November we'll be holding a special meeting to discuss how best to celebrate OHA's 10th Anniversary in 2009: yes, we can! Email me your suggestions to lnelson@operahousearts.org. Click on the birthday cake to give a gift to the Opera House Arts!
Meet OHA's New Staff
Jennifer Morrow is our new program manger, a new, full-time, year round position. Jennifer has been the business manager for Elliott Elliot Norelius Architecture in Blue Hill and is a past director of Seamark Community Arts. An active studio artist, Morrow has a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and a MFA from the University of Kansas, Lawrences and exhibits and teaches workshops nationally. A year-round resident of Deer Isle for 17 Years, she lives in Sunset with her Daughter, Sarah Wilson, a student of Deer Isle/Stonington Elementary School.
Emma Miran is our new Island Institute Fellow, and will serve as a planning and development coordinator for the Town of Stonington and OHA. Emma comes from Waverly, NY. She received her B.S. in Applied Economics and Management in 2007 from Cornell University. Some of her goals include creating and sustaining a supportive and positive climate for year-round businesses; and researching and coordinating public funding opportunities.
