Strand theater finds many supporters: People want building saved, its character restored The consensus during Thursday’s input session on the Strand was that the theater matters to the community. More than two dozen people came out to the McConnell Center to brainstorm ideas on what they want to see happen to the historic venue, how to make Dover a more vibrant arts community and how to pay for it. After a brief introduction on previous theater projects across the country, Louise Stevens, of ArtsMarket, who was hired through an RFP process by the Chamber of Commerce to bring the community together and gather public opinion on the future of the Strand, had residents write down what they want to see artistically happen here in Dover. Justine Roberts, executive director of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire read aloud the ideas that came from the community on what they wanted to happen to the physical Strand building. “Preserve it, the building needs to be saved, it is part of the history of the town and it has the opportunity to be a destination theater,” Roberts read. “It ought to be preserved and its character should be restored.” Michelle Kingston/Democrat photo Executive Director of the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Molly Hodgson Smith discusses the future of the Strand Theater with Louise Stevens, of ArtsMarket, who was hired to conduct a feasibility study on the theater and the community. Residents want to see it modernized, but kept historic, according to Molly Hodgson Smith of the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. She read ideas written by members about what arts and culture events they want to see in the city. They want to see space inside the Strand for food and a bar. Ideas stirred around about showing foreign films, documentaries, local films and nature films. People wrote down that they would like to see the Strand become “our version” of the Rochester opera house, with community youth orchestra, artist training programs, acting classes and live music. Stevens said her job is to hear what the community wants and find out if that will fit into the Strand. She said she was hired to figure out if the Strand will serve a purpose. “I have to start with what the community thinks the purpose is,” she said. If what the community wants does not fit in the Strand, her job is to find where it will fit. “And we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes,” she said of other projects, programs and businesses within the region that offer what the community is looking for in the theater. “Dover has changed hugely since I first came here and visited 30 years ago,” she said. “You’ve got a chance to do something not replicating what others have done … think about the future.” Stevens has worked on more than 150 cultural plans, according to Roberts. She has also authored five books. Stevens will take what was brainstormed on Thursday and put the content into two online surveys, one for residents and one for local cultural organizations. The purpose is to have as many people as possible add their voices to the discussion. The study is being paid for by a grant the Chamber was approved for in September 2012. The Thomas W. Haas Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation gave the grant to the city so they could explore the economic feasibility and community interest in refurbishing the theater. The Strand is on the market for $690,000. According to Stevens, it is assessed at $375,000. The community members at the input session felt the best way to pay for the revitalization would be by creating a nonprofit organization. fosters/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130621/GJNEWS_01/130629765/0/SEARCH
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:04:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015