MARBLE HOUSE PROJECT Marble House Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization MISSION Through artist residencies, sustainable agriculture and community engagement, Marble House Project fosters the exchange of ideas and nurtures the imaginative spirit. Marble House Project 1161 Dorset West Road Dorset VT 05251 MarbleHouseProject.org
RESIDENCY PROGRAM The Quarry at Marble House Project From May through September of 2015, Marble House Project hosted 52 Artists. Participating residents spend approximately three weeks developing work in their specific fields. Residents have the opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture,and interact with the community through field trips, ART-Seed (Marble House Project s presentation series) and Open Studios. One session is family friendly so artists can bring their partner and children. Art and ecology programming is provided for the children through additional interns and or graduate students. Hosting eight artists per session, Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food and studio space. The program is free to accepted applicants.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Sustainable Agriculture In 2015 Tina Cohen our Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture joined the Marble House Project team. The upper gardens were planted and the farm was born. Marble House Project acquired a small greenhouse, built a tractor chicken-coop out of reclaimed barn wood which houses 14 chickens and installed two bee hives for pollination and honey production in 2016. Our residents harvested food from the garden and completed two art installations within the farm to be used and enjoyed by future visitors.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Engagement 2015 In 2015 Marble House Project launched its public programming. ART-Seed occurred every Tuesday evening in the barn from May 5th through September 22nd. The program introduces our residents to the community through lectures, performance and a question and answer period. ART-Seed is an intimate way of getting to know our residents through presentation. In addition Marble House Project also held six garden tours and talks with sustainable farmers as part of our sustainable agriculture program. Visiting speaker,shawn Harrington gave a talk on marble quarries in and around Dorset, VT with a walking tour through the Sanford Quarry and author Megan Mayhew Bergman in conjunction with the Northshire Bookstore read from her new book almost famous Women. All of the events were free and open to the community.
PARTNERSHIPS Partnerships Marble House Project formed significant alliances and partnerships in 2015. Dorset Theatre festival presented their new play reading series at the barn and the organization was included in Hills Alive So VT. The newest and youngest member of the partnership, Marble house Project was invited to join some of the most prestigious non-profit arts organizations in Southern Vermont. In addition, MHP formed an alliance with Vermont College of Fine Arts and will host at least two of their alumni or faculty for residencies in 2016. As for our residents, every one of our 52 artists in 2015 has enthusiastically agreed to jury the 2016 residency applicants.
2016 PLANS Looking forward to 2016 Our Third Year of Programming In 2016 Marble House Project will host 56 artists with 21 ART-Seeds. The continuation of garden tours and sustainability talks will occur throughout the summer. Wednesday workshops will begin in June of 2016. fostering education and hands on experience in the garden and in the kitchen. We will also offer cooking classes As part of our community outreach, Marble House Project will include at least one artist who will work with middle school students creating a mural within the school system. These same students will visit the farm at MHP and learn about sustainable planting and food production through activities specifically designed to encourage the education of healthy eating with a hands on approach. Last but not least, in 2016 Marble House Project will begin year round programming. Starting November 2016 through April of 2017, groups of artists collaborating on specific projects will be invited to apply. As we approach the end of 2015 we look forward to a productive and exciting next season.
EVENTS Over 150 people in the community came to The 100th anniversary of the Charles Downing Lay Gardens benefit. We asked the community to come celebrate and help us build a new, sustainable, edible and productive garden for the next 100 years. Farm to Ballet performed by the pond. Our residents Aja Niesenson sang and Eugene Uman played the piano We thank our donors for all the items in our auction and a great time was had by all. Marble House Project also had its first farm to table dinner, Chef Winston Chiu was outstanding and 35 people attended the event. These two events helped raise over $35,000.
DONATE Creativity evolves through exploration and problem solving. These inquiries ebb and flow between personal and universal. When you support Marble House Project, you support creativity, sustainability, interactive relationships and the arts. We cannot sustain ourselves without you. Please consider giving. Marble House Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. ANNUAL FUND Marble House Project recognizes its donors. Through charitable giving our donors help fulfill and advance our mission to foster an innovative atmosphere and exchange of ideas through artists residencies, sustainable agriculture and community engagement that nurture the imaginative spirt in all of us. Our annual fund directly supports the programming and mission of Marble House Project. All donors will be publicly acknowledged in our end of year annual report unless they request anonymity. SPONSOR A RESIDENCY The cost to cover one artist residency for three weeks is $4000. With your name attached, you can sponsor an artist in a discipline of your choosing, meet the artist and have dinner with them. By sponsoring a residency you help an artist live and work at Marble House Project and support one of the fundamental missions of the program. Sponsoring a residency can be for one year or endowed. PLANNED GIVING Providing for the future of Marble House Projects through Planned Giving. Please contact us if you are interested in making a bequest. For more information on how to give please contact DanielleEpstein@MarbleHouseProject.org or visit our donate page at WWW.MarbleHouseProject.Org Whether, large or small, we deeply appreciate any support you are able to give and we thank you in advance. MARBLE HOUSE PROJECT 1161 DORSET WEST ROAD DORSET, VT 05251