Barre Opera House
Overview of Organization
“The mission of the Barre Opera House, Inc. is to restore, preserve and operate the historic Barre Opera House as a center for the performing arts serving the entire Central Vermont community.” The Barre Opera House = "Central Vermont's premier performance venue" – is a historic 1899 theater in the heart of downtown Barre. Occupying the upper floors of the City Hall building, the Opera House was recently (2022) renovated to upgrade it to 21st-century technical standards and restore its 19th-century grandeur. We offer around 50 shows a year, including everything from local school ensembles to top international touring performers. We are a driver of local commercial activity, with 25,000 patrons passing through our doors every year. We also serve the local community as a meeting place in times of crisis and celebration. The Barre Opera House has 4 staff members – Executive Director, Programming Director, Manager of Theater Operations and Development, and Box Office Manager/Bookkeeper – plus a number of hourly employees who do technical, facilities, and house-manager tasks.
Mission Area: Arts/Culture/Humanities
Size of Organization: $500K – $1M
Position Overview
The Board of Trustees of the Barre Opera House is an active and engaged board. We meet monthly to oversee the progress of the season, participate in development initiatives, and review proposals and challenges. As the stewards of a building on the National Registry of Historic Places, we balance issues of historic preservation with those in the performing arts. We have committees for Stewardship and Development, Programming and Marketing, and Facilities. Our board includes trustees from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life who share a commitment to preserving the unique history of Barre and advancing access to top-quality performing arts for the entire Central Vermont community and the general public.
Desired Skills: General Board Governance, Nonprofit Financials, Fundraising/Development, Marketing/Communications, Strategy/Business Planning
Additional Information
Current # of Board Members: 9
Carries liability insurance?: Yes
Carries D&O liability insurance?: Yes
Time Expectations: 10 hours a month
Meeting Frequency: Once a month
Meeting Location: Washington County
Length of Term (in years): 3
Financial contribution required?: Yes
Service on committee required?: Yes