Rutland decides on future of art center

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(Host) More than 150 people attended an emotional meeting in Rutland Tuesday night to decide the future of the Chaffee Art Center.

Financial difficulties have forced the nonprofit to cut programming and staff and close for the winter. In a last-ditch effort to save the organization, board members recommended they sell their landmark headquarters and find a new, less costly one.

But as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, many in the community feel the Chaffee’s historic mansion is too important to give up.

(Keck) For years the Chaffee long hosted art education, exhibits, and Rutland’s popular Art in the Park events. Local artist Mary Crowley was one of a dozen people who spoke passionately about the art center’s stately headquarters.

(Crowley) "It’s art in a beautiful setting – in an historic building. Yes, I understand it’s going to take heaps of money to even get it to be a useable space. But I think it’s worth the struggle. I think there are people who are energized who are ready to make money, money, money, according to a master plan, now.” (applause)

(Keck) During the two-hour meeting, the Chaffee’s board of directors explained the challenges they face, including a drop in membership and donations, a shortage of volunteers and nearly $500,000 in needed repairs on a building they say doesn’t adequately meet their needs. Despite all that, members voted overwhelmingly to keep the mansion – at least for now. Deirdre Erb, a former Chaffee director, was pleased.

(Erb) "I think sometimes it takes a crisis like this – the threat of the sale of something that’s really precious to you, to cause you to really band together, as everyone did this evening, and make a decision that runs contrary to what was the recommendation."

(Keck) Rich Macaluso, who stepped down as executive director of the Chaffee last spring, made a surprise announcement after receiving a late afternoon phone call from Congressman Peter Welch’s office.

(Macaluso) "We just got another $84,000 today.” (applause)

(Keck) A spokesman for Welch confirmed that the funding – which is to be used for building repairs – is part of an omnibus spending bill working its way through Congress. Jim Reddy, the newly elected president of the Chaffee’s board of directors, says now that members have decided to keep the building, the hard work to do that and rejuvenate the organization has just begun.

(Reddy) "We have interest in the community, now we’ll see if we can convert that interest into some meaningful support."

(Keck) For VPR News, I’m Nina Keck in Rutland.

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