A Letter from the Board Chair & Executive Director
Dear Friends of the CFA,
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2025 was a defining year for The Center for the Arts. It began with the grand opening of our first dedicated gallery and classroom space at 428 Main Street in New London, and it closed with the successful launch of the inaugural New Year’s New London, which brought the region together in celebration through the arts. Between those two moments, the CFA grew significantly in programming, in reach, and in impact.
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It was also a year of transition. We express our gratitude to former ED Dena Stahlheber for her passion for the organization, and words cannot express the debt we owe to Jean Connolly for her 15 years of committed Board leadership and determination that has been so instrumental in building the CFA into what it is today.
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The evidence from communities across the country is compelling: the arts are not simply a reflection of a thriving community — they are a cause of one. Regions that have cultivated strong arts institutions see something remarkable happen. People choose to move there and stay there. Businesses follow. Tourism deepens. A vibrant and authentic sense of place takes hold. And it is a highly-inclusive process that grows and builds upon itself. Whether the arts are a curiosity, an interest, a passion, or a vocation, The Center for the Arts is here for you.
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Inspired by that potential, and by the strength of our own foundation, the CFA has defined with new clarity who we are and where we are going. In partnership with our artists, volunteers, patrons, donors, sponsors and community partners, The CFA Powers the Creative Life of the Sunapee Region. Our mission is to drive cultural experiences that educate, entertain, and inspire, while contributing meaningfully to the economic vitality of the communities we serve.
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Our vision is to become a preeminent community arts center and destination in New England, with “the arts” so woven into the fabric of this region that their presence is as defining as the landscape itself. We will get there by bringing world-class arts experiences to the heart of the Sunapee Region, providing a true home for regional artists (support, spaces, audience, community), connecting neighbors and visitors through shared creative experiences, making creativity accessible to everyone, and being a catalyst for the growth of the region’s economy.
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None of it happens without you. The CFA exists to serve this regional community, and the impact you will find in the pages ahead belongs to you as much as it does to us. While we have a proud fifteen-plus year history, we are just getting started.
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With gratitude,
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Barry Fougere
Board Chair
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Howard Brown
Executive Director
"Inspired by that potential, and by the strength of our own foundation, the CFA has defined with new clarity who we are and where we are going."
You Keep the Arts Thriving
Thank you for enriching our community through the arts!
The arts continue to flourish in the community thanks to the generous support of our membership contributors, donors, business sponsors, scholarship donors and grantors/foundations, and volunteers. We couldn't be more grateful!
Thanks to our 2025 Annual Fund Donors,
Sponsors, & Volunteers
