Two Arts Organizations Are Better Than One! 

St. Johnsbury’s own Catamount Arts center has joined forces with the Colonial Theatre in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Members of either organization can now enjoy reciprocal benefits on both sides of the river.
Catamount Arts has been an important force in St. Johnsbury’s cultural scene since 1975. The non-profit organization provides programming in the arts for area residents, visitors, and schoolchildren. Catamount Arts shows two foreign/independent films each week and holds regular gallery showings of area artists’ works. The organization sponsors a series of live performances, both for area schools as well as the general community. Its building on Eastern Avenue houses two movie theaters, an 80-seat performance space, two classrooms, and gallery space.
The Colonial Theatre in Bethlehem, New Hampshire has been operated by the Friends of the Colonial since 2002, presenting independent and foreign films, plus live performances by national touring artists from May through November. Its building on Main Street is beautifully restored and is listed on the New Hampshire Register of Historic Places. Like Catamount Arts, the organization has significant outreach to its local community, including schools, libraries, and other arts organizations and community groups.
With the collaboration of the two arts organizations, members of either Catamount Arts or the Colonial Theatre will enjoy member ticketing at both locations. This means reduced ticket prices for movies and live events whether you’re attending at Catamount or the Colonial.
Executive Director of the Colonial Theatre, Stephen Dignazio, and Executive Director of Catamount Arts, Jody Fried, are excited by the collaboration between their two organizations. “The Colonial Theatre’s mission to preserve and enhance film and performance, to contribute to the economy, and to inspire the community through support of the arts is compatible with the philosophy of Catamount,” said Stephen Dignazio. Jody Fried expects that “…as more high quality programming is offered in the area, more people will attend events on both sides of the river.”
Those of us who live or vacation in the North Country know that although it the boundary between Northern Vermont and Northern New Hampshire is the Connecticut River, it is easy to cross. And now Catamount Arts and the Colonial Theatre have given us more reasons to do so!