Middlesex Savings Pledges $75K to Arts Facility

The New England Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce that Middlesex Savings Bank of Natick has made a leadership capital campaign pledge of $75,000 toward the development of a new regional performing arts complex in Franklin.

Building on 25 successful years of performing arts education, the New England Center for the Performing Arts has embarked on a capital campaign to bring a new accessible state-of-the-art performing arts complex to the Metrowest region. The new 60,000-square-foot facility, located in the Town of Franklin, will be the only one of its kind and is poised to have a tremendous cultural and economic impact on the region. The Center, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, brings together the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and the Franklin Performing Arts Company.

In making the leadership pledge, John Heerwagen, Chairman, President and CEO of Middlesex Savings Bank, said, "We believe that arts organizations such as The New England Center for the Performing Arts make a vital contribution to quality of life in the towns that we serve.  We are pleased that this grant will assist them in developing a first-class performance space in which to work."  In honor of its contribution, Middlesex has been awarded naming rights to a fully appointed music classroom in the new facility. 

Middlesex Savings Bank has also announced a 2010/2011 season sponsorship for the productions of the Franklin Performing Arts Company.  This includes support of such annual favorites as the Franklin Performing Arts Company's The Nutcracker.

Founded by Director Raye Lynn Mercer in 1985, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) has grown to serve nearly 1000 students annually from 45 different communities.  Young people are able to pursue the performing arts with professional training, whether they participate for recreation or plan to pursue the arts for college and career. The new complex will enable FSPA to expand its current curriculum and offer additional programming, including classes for seniors and individuals with special needs.

Mercer says "We are happy to recognize Middlesex Savings Bank as a community partner of the New England Center for the Performing Arts. The Bank serves as a programming sponsor for our Franklin Performing Arts Company productions, and we are thrilled to reserve the naming of a classroom in our new facility. The support of the businesses in our area is critical to the success of our ambitious facilities project."

For information about the capital campaign, please contact Alan Mercer at The Center at 508-528-8668 or visit the website at www.necpaonline.com.

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