From the Mountain Ear

Salyards Center for the Arts Plans Renovation

By Tom Eastman
Editor-at-Large
CONWAY VILLAGE ~ At the Jan. 4th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Conway Historical Society, a proposal to create the position of Managing Director for the Salyards Center for the Arts was unanimously accepted and Cindy Russell, of Monarch Events, was named to the post. An announcement of the new position was made this past week at the Historical Society monthly meeting of the membership.

The Salyards Center for the Arts is a project of the Conway Historical Society and was initially begun in 1998 as a result of a bequest in memory of a part-time Conway resident, the late Florence McBride Salyards by her husband, Capt. Justin Salyards. The Salyards occupied the former blacksmith shop and jail on Washington Street in Conway Village each summer for over 40 years, returning to Mississippi each winter.

Their gift began a metamorphosis within the Society providing the opportunity to look beyond the simpler art of caretaking the past into a deeper and more influential role as the leader in conveying historical properties and thus helping the focus of creating a long awaited Center for the Arts in the White Mountains.

In Oct. 2001 the St. Charles Church on Main Street in Conway Village was purchased for use as the Salyards Center for the Arts. Captain Salyards' original gift in memory of his wife was increased at the time of his death, and was further enhanced by a bequest from Ruth Dahl and another bequest from Shumway Marshall. Additional support for the Salyards project has also been received from the Pequawket Foundation as well as contributions from many members and friends of the Conway Historical Society.

Renovation slated for spring

A major renovation of the building making it accessible to the greater Mt. Washington Valley community is planned to begin at the end of February to be completed by July, according to board members, who gave a tour of the facility to The Ear Jan. 12.

The Facilities Committee of the Salyards Center for The Arts has been working with engineer Sean Bergeron's office in Madison to achieve a plan that will provide a climate controlled building with potential gallery space and a performance area which will seat approximately 250 to 300 people on the main floor as well as a reception/meeting area on the lower floor. At the time of completion, the building will be available for community
use.

The goal of the Facilities Committee working under the Conway Historical Society's organization is to 'plan a facility which will help to provide a cultural environment affordable to all residents in the greater Mt. Washington Valley.'

" I am looking forward to working in partnership with David Emerson, Executive Director of the Conway Historical Society," stated Russell, "as we embark on this exciting project. It will be a wonderful asset to our community to have this beautiful performance and gallery space available. It is exciting to envision the ability to present both the visual arts of local artists, as well as bringing in traveling exhibits and at the same time have a state of the art facility for presenting performances of music and theater to moderately sized audiences right here in the valley."

Conway Historical Society treasurer, Tom Bryant, along with Board President Ken Rancourt and member Howard West comprise the Facility Committee and envision Russell's position as encompassing everything from helping with fund-raising efforts in the form of grants, corporate support and individual contributions as well as providing a liaison with other arts organizations in the valley that might lead to additional use of the Center such as MWV Arts Association, area schools, Mt. Top Music Center, White Mountain Musical Arts, International Musical Arts Institute and others as well as becoming the contact person for any person or group wishing to make use of the facility.

Mountain Top leases from the CHS the old Fire Station across the street and is in the midst of a capital campaign to complete renovations of that facility for music lessons.

Concerts could be performed at that facility; in the gazebo in the Pequawket Park, and at the Salyards Center, Russell and others noted, explaining that Mountain Top and the CHS enjoy a close working relationship. She said as Conway changes with the planned possible coming of the 9A bypass around the village, facilities such as the Salyards Center, Mountain Top and the Conway Public Library will serve as a campus of sorts for cultural happenings.

Nearby will be the renovated Kennett High as a middle school, and also just down the street is the Ham Arena. She said that the Salyards Center and the Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association have had preliminary exploratory talks regarding the MWVAA's search for a permanent home and that those talks will continue.

Borrowing from endowment

While the funds for the renovation have been committed, it is incumbent upon the group to raise funds to restore the endowments to their original level in order to create the sound financial support necessary to maintain and run the art center, Bryant said.

In welcoming Russell to the new position, Historical Society Executive Director David Emerson said, "I couldn't be happier with the board's decision. I have great respect for Cindy's talent and ethics and have always enjoyed working with her."

Emerson and Russell touring the Salyards Center before renovations begin.

The Salyards Center for the Arts is located at 110 Main Street, adjacent to the Eastman Lord House in Conway Village. The Conway Historical Society was founded in 1935 to preserve the rich and varied history of the Conways, through generous interests and growing membership of nearly 400 members.

In addition to serving the Salyards Center for the Arts, Russell willcontinue her work as Executive Director for the past 25 years with Arts Jubilee as they plan their Silver Jubilee Summer Season, serving as Administrative Coordinator for the White Mountain Musical Arts organization which presents chamber concerts and the annual Bach Festival, and helping to coordinate two local community historic projects, the Connie Davis Watson Park and the Mineral Spring House.

Individuals who are interested in supporting Salyards Center for the Arts project should make contributions to the Salyards Center in care of Conway Historical Society, P.O. Box 1949, Conway 03818. Russell may be reached at Monarch Events at 447-8914. For further information, go to www.conwayhistory.org