Lebanon, NH-based abstract painter Roger Goldenberg creates improvisational paintings in response to dance movement performed by members of Ballet Misha. (Photo courtesy of NHBCA/Joseph Andruskevich)
McLane Middleton law firm, Savings Bank of Walpole and Summit Supply were among the businesses recognized for their support of the arts by the NH Business Committee for the Arts (NHBCA) at its signature annual event on May 8 that was attended by more than 300 people.
“Celebrating the outstanding award winners’ accomplishments tonight was exhilarating,” says Tricia Soule, NHBCA executive director. “All of them are deeply committed to supporting the arts because they believe in art’s ability to positively impact our communities and transform lives – sometimes in very unexpected ways. I was so impressed with the quality of applications we received and can tell you that the Awards Selection Committee definitely had their work cut out for them when it came down to determining the winners.”
McLane Middleton was honored with the Boundless Generosity Award for its commitment to volunteerism and overarching philosophy that their attorneys should be active participants in their communities. The firm’s relationships and support of the Capitol Center for the Arts to the Palace Theater to Opera North to Manchester Community Music School and many others, are passed down from one attorney to another.
Savings Bank of Walpole received the Dyed-in-the-Wool Award for supporting nearly two dozen performing, visual and youth arts organizations in the Monadnock region for more than five consecutive years.
The Fanfare Award was presented to Summit Supply for promoting The Music Hall on the company’s fleet of service trucks with custom wraps that advertise the theatre.
Derek Lucci of Amherst won the Bayberry Financial Services Artrepreneur Award for his founding of Open Sky, a skills-based acting program for incarcerated men in the NH State Prison system. The actor, director, writer and educator’s organization has reached over 650 incarcerated residents who either participated in or attended one of 11 performances (followed by audience discussion) of the Sam Shepard play “True West.”
NHBCA Board Chair and President & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental Tom Raffio, left, with Derek Lucci of Open Sky of Amherst, who is the winner of the Bayberry Financial Services Artrepreneur Award. (Photo courtesy of NHBCA/Joseph Andruskevich)
The Northeast Delta Dental Artsbuild Community Award was presented to Kimball Jenkins for partnering with My Turn to help reduce barriers of access to arts experiences for young people while helping to connect with creative placemaking through art and centering traditionally underrepresented voices. The partnership resulted in a public mural in Concord, designed and executed by a group of teenagers who received mentoring and feedback from artistic, business and civic leaders in everything from project management to budgeting and community development.
Winners were awarded a fused glass sculpture created specifically for the event by Manchester-based artist Verne Orlosk. Each award was accompanied by a certificate made by calligraphy artist Adele Sanborn.
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