Why Now? Why MoCo?
MoCo Arts was founded 25 years ago in its current building, a former machine shop.
Since then enrollment has grown 225%; the building has not.
MoCo Arts by the numbers
- 18 Months to 18 Years, and beyond – Ages Served
- 2,300 – Students Annually
- 80,000 Hours- Classes/Performances
- $70,000+ – Tuition Assistance Annually
- 25 Years Ago – MoCo was Founded
- 225% – Growth in Enrollment
- 0% – Growth in Space
MoCo Arts is a beloved and respected member of the Monadnock Community – a nonprofit family-centered arts education organization that delivers exceptionally high quality dance, theatre and multi-arts instruction to more than 2,300 children a year and partners with area public schools, social service agencies and other nonprofit organizations.
Five years ago MoCo Arts had a budget of $720,000 and nearly $400,000 of debt. Now its budget is $1 million and it is debt-free; a remarkable turn-around that took the combined strength of the current staff, board and members of the community to achieve.
Now MoCo has more programs than it can accommodate. Now MoCo Arts’ student body is out-growing its space. Now MoCo Arts has the staff, board and financial strength to truly transform.
Today, bursting at the seams, MoCo Arts is building its future. This is the right staff and the right board to lead the organization through this transformation; a new location, a larger space, the establishment of a downtown hub of creative education for our youth. MoCo Arts asks its students to demonstrate growth, perseverance and teamwork. These are values we live, too; never more than now in our 25th year with over-capacity programming and many opportunities to attract even more students.
Space is cramped; there are not enough studios; class sizes and program offerings are constrained. Drop-off and pick-up is difficult because there is no parking and the building is on a busy street.
MoCo Arts will build on the site of a former distressed downtown building, the old Y, revitalizing a key piece of property just steps from Keene’s vibrant Central Square.
Yes! I want to help transform the lives of children in the Monadnock Region!
