Changes are happening at Five-sparks, Harvard’s cultural center on the Common. In a recent conversation, Cary Browse, board president, talked about how a reorganization of the board’s responsibilities has led to, among other things, the creation of a grants committee, which in turn has led to plans for building improvements, new programs, and collaboration with other town organizations.
“We now have a governance structure,” said Browse, “and are becoming very official.” Each member of the board is the chair of something, “and with the division of labor, we’re able to do so much.” As president, Browse said she wears many hats, among them that of a programming chair. With its nonprofit status, Fivesparks can apply for various grants, and now the grants committee can make full use of that status to expand in new directions.
“Strawberry on the Edge,” a pastel by BF Reed, is one of many pastels currently on display in Marks of Distinction—Central Mass Pastels Society National Juried Art Show—open through Sept. 26. (Courtesy photo)
An earmark grant, sponsored by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, will pay for new flooring and upgraded lighting in the building. All carpeting in the public areas of the main floor will be replaced; details have yet to be worked out. Because it’s a state grant, the town implements the grant, sending out requests for proposals and making the selection of a contractor to do the work. While the town owns the building and is responsible for the plumbing, electricity, and heating, Fivesparks has to fund improvements to the inside of the building. “It’s good to be recognized as a place that’s worthy of grant money,” said Browse.
Community Preservation Committee funds voted on last spring at Town Meeting will be used to replace windows; technically the CPC grant will go to the town as owner of the building. Sitting in the fireplace room, Browse pointed out a broken pane and places where the frames are damaged. “And none of them open,” she added. Some windows can be repaired while others need to be replaced. Because some of the windows are rounded, they will have to be custom made so that everything is historically accurate.
Exciting new programs
One of the new programs Browse is excited about is a series of concerts on Thursday evenings this fall. Browse explained how David Geratt of Fugitive Productions, who has organized monthly storytelling at Old Frog Pond Farm, approached Fivesparks with the proposal that he would put together concerts with area musicians who would be a perfect fit for the intimate space at Fivesparks. To pay for the musicians, Fivesparks will use a grant from a local foundation. Geratt gave the Fivesparks board descriptions of 20 possible musicians, from which members chose 10, and Geratt then arranged for the four monthly concerts, starting in September. Browse said Geratt is a pro, “so organized and a delight to work with.”
Another new program is the Gingerbread Showcase to be held the second weekend in December, with demonstration workshops held beforehand. This is an adult competition, though kids can be part of an adult team. There will be different categories in which a contestant may enter “a gingerbread structure.” Judges will have varied expertises, like baking and architecture, and will award prizes.
Fivesparks Theater, with director and producer Bob Eiland, will have its first full season, following a successful debut last spring. Auditions were held in early September for a production Oct. 30 and two weekends in early November. The two-person romantic comedy “Two Across” takes place on a subway car. The new moveable stage in the gallery room makes a huge difference in the audience’s ability to readily see the performers. There will be a spring production by which time Browse, while skeptical, hopes theater lighting will have been installed over the stage area at the end of the gallery room.
With its growing reputation, Fivesparks has been approached by performers wanting to do a program. One is a young pianist who attended the Fivesparks Music Festival last June; he will give a concert in October, “Etudes in the Gallery,” to benefit the Fivesparks Music Festival. Two professional musicians, connected to the Unitarian Universalist church in Stow, will do a Schubert program, vocal and piano, Oct. 26. The selection is “Winterreise,” and the musicians will give a talk about the piece before they perform it.
Collaboration with other town organizations
In addition to building improvements and expanded programming, Browse described the new and continuing collaborations between Fivesparks and other town organizations. She said the monthly seasonal storytelling event at Old Frog Pond Farm will be held at Fivesparks in the event of rain. Fruitlands has begun some cross-advertising with Fivesparks, like posting flyers, and Fivesparks is listing Fruitlands events in its newsletter.
Fivesparks Executive Director AnaMaria Nanra joined the conversation to say that for the second year, the Harvard Family Association will use Fivesparks for part of its Halloween festivities. Live animals—snakes and an alligator, among others (all contained, one trusts)—will be in the gallery room and pumpkin decorating in the basement.
Nanra said that, working with Hildreth Elementary School Principal Rebecca Katsh-Singer, an after-school program that was piloted last spring will continue this school year. Fivesparks will do the funding and administrative work for any teacher who wants to offer an after-school program that will be held at HES.
Next spring will be the third year for Fivesparks to host an exhibit of artwork by Village Nursery School children, and Bloom N Art will return in March.
While Fivesparks will continue to have a full slate of art exhibits, the collaboration with the Conservation Trust, “Destination Nature,” will not be happening this year. Nanra explained that what was intended to be a one-time celebration of the trust’s 50th anniversary was so popular that the event continued for two more years. Now, said Nanra, Fivesparks needs to take a year off to figure out how to sustain this very popular art show.
