Jen Sundeen, founder of the Durga Studio, walks through a mat-room-only class that featured music by the Beatles. Jen’s classes are held in the old library’s former children’s room Monday mornings, and Tuesday and Friday evenings. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
When the Pilot Project opened in the former public library building on Fairbank Street in the fall of 2010, Harvard residents had a vision of a place where they could take in a cross-section of cultural activities. A year and half later, thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, and support from politicians and residents, the old library has experienced a renaissance.
Although the town-owned facility has dedicated space for Harvard Cable TV and the town’s veterans’ services office, it is primarily used for and by townspeople in the pursuit of cultural recreation.
Harvard resident Sheila Peters is the program coordinator for the Pilot Project Working Group and teaches dance and stretching classes in the Movement Room of the building. Peters said she sees the success of the project as a reflection of the spirit of the town.
“Harvard has an extraordinary history of producing original thinkers and attracting talented people,” Peters said. “We need a center where these individuals can offer their talents to the residents and surrounding communities. We need a place where residents can come together to share and build a sense of shared experience.”
The Long family makes cards at a recent For Art’s Sake event at the old library. From left are Andrea, Aidan, and Shane.
Growing up in Harvard was special to her, Peters said, because of the palpable sense of community.
“It is important that the Old Library maintain its relevancy to the town and the Pilot Project is a great vehicle to do so and stay true to the original intent of the building’s creators,” she said.
Over the last two years, program offerings have been varied and often unique. There have been monthly art exhibits, SAT prep courses, African drumming classes, book sales, soccer club meetings, seminars in dressage, political party meetings, book signings, knitters and illustrators groups, scout meetings, and most recently, a Valentine-making event sponsored by For Art’s Sake.
For Art’s Sake, a Harvard-based nonprofit community art association, is one of the Pilot Project’s most dedicated supporters. Harvard resident and For Art’s Sake co-founder Melissa Yahia has seen the local art scene energized by the new uses for the building.
“The Valentine-making workshop has become so successful that we have made it an annual event,” Yahia said. “It is great to see families come in and work together in an artistic way. Also, the opportunity to extend the monthly artist exhibitions we hold at the [Harvard General Store] has been exciting. Now, we have a dedicated space where people can showcase their talents and we can provide networking opportunities for them to connect to other artists, teachers, and students.”
From left: Maria MacManus; Riley Allard; Sydney Meininger; and Grace McNamara stretch during Creative Dance & Yoga for Special Needs led by Jennifer McGowan.
In addition to the growing list of special events, the Pilot Project is also home to regular weekly, and monthly programs. One such class, “Creative Dance and Yoga for Special Needs Children,” is taught by dancer Jennifer McGowan. McGowan grew up in Harvard and now has her own studio in Pepperell. She said she was thrilled to bring her knowledge of dance “home” to Harvard.
“I always thought the old library would be a great place for performing arts,” McGowan said. “When the opportunity arose for me to be part of this effort I couldn’t wait to get started.”
Another group that calls the Pilot Project home is the Ukulele Union. Founded by Harvard resident Danno Sullivan, this strumming society held monthly meetings on Sundays even before the Pilot Project was official. Sullivan has seen a lot of changes to the space that he once thought of as “a creepy old Victorian building.”
“For our group it was great to have an easy, inexpensive meeting place,” he said. “There are about 15 of us who meet, and our members are from all over the state.”
This collaboration of artistic talent is precisely what Pilot Project Working Group chairwoman Willie Wickman said she hoped they would achieve.
“I can’t think of a better use of the building,” she said. “It is a work in progress and the five-year plan we submitted to the Board of Selectman outlines where we see the Project heading.”
Wickman is referring to a planning document assembled by the Boston-based nonprofit management consulting firm TDC. The report was designed to provide a map to guide the town of Harvard and the Pilot Project toward the creation of a permanent community cultural center at the old library. Goals outlined in the plan include operating models, staffing, programming, and fundraising.
Currently, the operating budget comes from fees collected from classes, rentals, donations, and fundraising. This money is applied toward upkeep, improvement, and maintenance. The plan developed by TDC advises the town and the working group on ways to maximize the potential of the space.
Meeting with Selectmen
The working group and Sarah Glatt, of TDC, presented a draft of the report to Selectmen Tuesday night. According to the report, the group intends to incorporate a new nonprofit organization to create a permanent, self-sustaining cultural center at the old library, which has yet to be given a name. The nonprofit will be run by a board of directors and an executive director who will begin on a part-time basis and move toward full-time as the center’s revenue increases, the report says. This is all dependent on receiving a new five-year lease from the town.
Selectmen said Tuesday they were not prepared to offer such a lease, as they have not ruled out the possibility of moving town offices to the old library during the upcoming renovation of Town Hall. Selectmen charged Town Administrator Tim Bragan with investigating the cost of making a move to the old library or somewhere else, and invited the Pilot Project Working Group to make a presentation at Town Meeting.
If Town Hall does temporarily move to the old library, Pilot Project supporters say, it will effectively kill the plan.
“I think the momentum will be lost and people would just be concerned it would never come to fruition,” Wickman said Tuesday night.
