Just over a year ago, Reagan Messer, Executive Director and Artistic Director of Dance at MoCo Arts and the Capital Campaign Committee co-chair, John Hoffman, announced the launch of ‘MoCo Moves: Building MoCo Arts’ Future’ immediately following the popular spring dance performance of ‘The Jungle Book’. The organization had long since outgrown their facility on Railroad Street and was in need of more space to enable them to continue to offer high-quality arts education opportunities to children throughout the region. Fast forward to today when MoCo Arts has officially opened their doors to their brand new arts education facility at 40 Roxbury Street in Keene, NH, and the future is bright.
On Tuesday, August 28th approximately 600 enthusiastic guests gathered behind MoCo Arts’ new arts education facility at 40 Roxbury Street awaiting the highly-anticipated Ribbon Cutting and Open House ceremony. After brief speeches from organization and community leaders, followed by beautiful singing from a group of MoCo Theatre students, three Keene High School seniors – representing MoCo 12th graders – came to the microphone to announce they had come together to make a gift of $500. The $500 put the ‘MoCo Moves: Building MoCo Arts’ Future’ capital campaign over the $5 million fundraising goal!
The appreciative crowd erupted in cheers, awestruck at the reality that this goal had been reached. In true MoCo spirit, it was teamwork, perseverance and dedication that made this project possible. Thanks to the generous spirit of this community, MoCo fall dance and theatre classes begin on September 4th in the new 17,000 sq. ft. facility on the site of the former YMCA, just a block from Central Square in downtown Keene, Gifts from 412 donors including MoCo board, staff, students and families, local businesses, community members and foundations made this possible.
MoCo is so grateful to all who have given to this meaning project benefitting the children, the arts and the community. Thank you! THANK YOU! Because of YOU, MoCo Arts is now at home in their new, modern, spacious facility. We look forward to welcoming our students this fall, and to becoming a hub for the arts and creativity in the Monadnock Region.
Click to see the expanded class schedule, and here to see the expanded performance schedule.
Watch the Ribbon Cutting video recap here!
