Brief History of West Street Arts

In 1998 Brattleboro businessman Bob Johnson purchased the former West Dummerston Grange Hall in West Dummerston Village, Vermont. He put in  new wiring, a new roof and new storm windows. As the upgrade was taking effect,   Erica Thompson founder of Timson Hill Preschool , with experience as primary school teacher of 25 years and with extensive background in theatre set about transforming the historic building into a center for studio and performing arts she would call West Street Arts. She created an after school art program and employed artists of every discipline to teach classes to area primary students. The offerings included mask making with Art Costa, storytelling with Cynthia Payne, writing with Verandah Porche. She established evening classes in belly dance, square dance and swing, hosted art openings , taught drama and produced dozens of full scale professional children s productions. When Erica relocated in July 2003 Peg Eves assumed directorship of the organization . An award-winning songwriter with a background in music and experience in booking and promotion Peg created the Make Art Not War music series and The Blue Chair Coffeehouse. WEst sTreet Arts has hosted such artists as Joel Zoss, Bird Songs of the Mesozoic, The Roches, Steve Forbert , Ill Wind Ensemble and Gideon Freudmann.

Mission

Our overall mission at West Street Arts is community service through the arts . We demonstrate and promote positive use of imagination as a primary means for self-fulfillment. Our programming for youth helps them to recognize , to value and to enjoy their creative abilities and to develop habits of constructive expression. We advocate for and employ artists and present artistic works for the recreation and enrichment of the public. West Street Arts designs our programs and our  publicity with an eye to integrating divergent audiences.