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Updated 3/4/2020

West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts

  • N

    NH

Institution/Business Type: Arts Center

The West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts’ (WCCMA) mission is to bring professional music and arts experiences, diverse musicians, and educational opportunity to the underserved and low-income community of Claremont NH, and the wider Upper Valley region. We are committed to offering performances and workshops without charge, enabling everyone in the community to access the arts and their benefits.

 

WE BELIEVE...

  • ...the arts build and bind our community by catalysing conversation, sparking imagination, and engendering empathy. 

  • ...arts education is central to developing a well-rounded citizenry.

  • ...art must be accessible to all and it is our responsibility to remove the economic, physical, and perceptive barriers to participation.

  • ...Participation in the arts cultivates self-respect, encourages confidence and creates civic engagement.  

 

WE VALUE

  • Passion: We present passion through our performances, artists, and educators in order to evoke passion in our students and patrons.

  • Community: We strengthen and engage community by bringing together citizens of Claremont and surrounding towns.

  • Excellence: We maintain a standard of excellence by offering community the quality of programming 
they deserve.

  • Access: We provide access to the arts for all, regardless of the situation, through an emphasis on 
free or low-cost programs.

  • Confidence: We offer educational programming that empowers everyone, especially youth, to find confidence in their abilities.

  • Diversity: We present musicians, artists, performances, and educational programs that represent a diversity of cultures, genres, disciplines, and life experiences.

 

WE ENVISION...

  • … a thoughtful and compassionate Claremont Creative Center designed to serve as an arts incubator and a home for learning.

  • … programs and performances that gather people together to be part of something momentous and beautiful.

  • … a financially thriving WCCMA that provides jobs and serves Claremont and the Upper Valley Region for years to come.

  • … a culturally rich community that values and demands outstanding musicians, artists, performances.

  • … a prosperous Claremont driven by the creative economy.

  • … future generations of curious, respectful, confident, compassionate, fulfilled, and civic-minded citizens.

 

Since its inaugural concert series at Union Church in summer of 2008, WCCMA has consistently offered free or low-cost access to world-class musicians in an intimate setting via the professional Summer and Fall Concert Series, the only multi-season, local series to feature professional musicians performing classical, world, jazz, and new music. WCCMA serves as a home base for world-class musicians who can cultivate new work in a safe setting. Presenting artists are inspiring and award winning performers and composers in all genres of music. Admission is by donation so that everyone in our community can explore new or familiar emerging and established artists. These artists in turn give back to the community by offering master classes and workshops both in schools and at Union Church. 

 

Youth Arts Enrichment Initiative (since 2012): Arts workshops, music lessons, and services to the youth in our community, including matching underserved students with instruments they can borrow for free, and scholarships for lessons and workshops. It also provides student recitals, community ensemble opportunities, and small ensembles for students studying music, a key to developing as a musician and as a person.

 

    • Claremont HopStop (in partnership with Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College and Claremont Parks and Rec.)

    • School Residencies and Community Workshops with visiting artists

    • Art Therapy (collaborative program with West Central Behavioral Health)

    • Music Lessons

    • Ensembles

    • Scholarships

 

Bach Tree (since 2014):  Innovative music education intensive created by celebrated artists Dinuk Wijeratne, Nick Halley, and Artistic Director Melissa Richmond. This ground-breaking program teaches creativity techniques, training in rhythm, composition, and performance. Customized workshops for schools and educational institutions as well as to professional musicians and creatives across disciplines are offered locally and internationally.

 

Creative Community Building: WCCMA is committed to providing a place for artists to gather, cross-pollinate, and collaborate to engage bind our local community and grow our creative economy. We connect instructors with students, creative entrepreneurs to resources, and represent Claremont as an ever evolving creative force for North America. 


 

Find Me

Melissa Richmond
Job Title: Executive Director
Phone: 802.738.0022
Address:
c/o Union Church
133 Old Church Rd
Claremont, NH 03743

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Arts Center

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Embedded in non-cultural private organization

Parent Organization:

Union Episcopal Church

Year Founded:

2008

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Arts Center

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Embedded in non-cultural private organization

Parent Organization:

Union Episcopal Church

Year Founded:

2008

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Multi-Disciplinary

Additional Disciplines:

  • Multi-Disciplinary

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Artist Market
  • Artist Representation / Artist Management
  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Arts and Health
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Community Arts
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Film Showings
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Professional Development / Training
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Residency - Community
  • Residency - In School
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 45

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • Incarcerated (or Formerly Incarcerated) individuals
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Native American Tribes
  • Nonprofits
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens
  • Veteran/Active Duty Military Personnel
  • Youth-At-Risk

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility

Historical Building, has rear ramp for wheelchair access with same-level seating space in the multi-level building. Hall has a fully accessible lift. We do not have a comprehensive technical program of additional accommodations, but we do have hearing assist devices (so far never used), and do amplify artists comments for ease of hearing for all. We are always happy to accommodate additional needs as much as possible upon request. We are currently reviewing our digital presence to ensure that we implementing all recommendations for accessibility.

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • Executive Director Melissa Richmond was the recipient of the NH Governor's Award for Distinguised Arts Leadership in 2015
  • Executive Director Melissa Richmond was part of Sullivan County's team selected to participate in the National Association of Counties' Creative Counties Placemaking Challenge

Awards

Awards:

  • Executive Director Melissa Richmond was the recipient of the NH Governor's Award for Distinguised Arts Leadership in 2015
  • Executive Director Melissa Richmond was part of Sullivan County's team selected to participate in the National Association of Counties' Creative Counties Placemaking Challenge

Special Designations

Special Designations:

  • Creative Communities Exchange (CCX) Presenter
  • NEFA Grant Recipient
  • New England Presenters (NEP) Member