Slowly But Surely: New Spire Stages Update!

Things are moving along at New Spire Stages on West Patrick Street. Yes, we are responsible for the sidewalk closure but please don’t hold it against us, we promise it will be worth it! We are excited to announce the walls of the black box theatre are almost complete! Just think, the chaos in this photo will be transformed into a brand new, flexible black box theatre. Our grand opening is only six months away...


FREE Mini Workshops at New Spire Arts!

Join us for FREE mini workshops every first and third Saturday! The whole family will be entertained by drama games, music, circus, and more! First Saturday Open Houses are from 3:00pm-5:00pm and third Saturday Open Houses are from 10:00am-12:00pm. Workshops are appropriate for elementary age kids and up.

All Open Houses are held at New Spire Studios at 115 E Church St. There is free parking behind the building which can be accessed by making a left from Church St onto Chapel Alley and then another left into our lot.

 

July 21, 10:00am-12:00pm

Musical Theatre Sing Along, Acting & Soolah Hoops

 

August 4, 3:00pm-5:00pm

Belly Dance & Circus

 

August 18, 10:00am-12:00pm

Musical Theatre Sing Along & Voice Acting


NEW: Fall 2018 Semester Classes!

Summer's barely started, but it's time to start thinking about fall! We've got over 25 new classes and workshops for all ages and interests. With our awesome new website, finding a class has never been easier!

You can search by genre or age range to find classes, or you can search by series, which filters based on our education programs.

 


Join Us for the Opening of Presence Art Show

Presence Art Show, the opening show for a zine and collective developed for (and by) queer youth in the Frederick area, will be held on June 16th at New Spire Arts. Come by between 5pm and 11pm on June 16th to support queer artists in Frederick!

You can read more about the teens behind the show in the Frederick News Post.


First Lady of Maryland, Yumi Hogan, Visits New Spire Arts

Thank you to the First Lady of Maryland Yumi Hogan for attending the opening reception of the veterans art exhibit To Honor and to Serve: The Arts & the Military. The exhibit includes over fifty artworks created by veterans, military family members, and civilians interested in the impact of war and trauma.

First Lady Hogan visited New Spire Spaces to see the pieces on display there and for performances by two veterans, Jacquelyn Bengfort and Michael Carrasquillo.

She also made remarks at VOLT Restaurant, where the rest of the works from To Honor and to Serve are on display. To Honor and to Serve is on display from April 13 through June 2.


Summer Camp Registration is Now Open!

This summer, New Spire Arts is offering a series of full- and half-day performing arts camps for K-9th graders. Before and after care is available. Register before March 15 to automatically receive the Super Early Bird discount of 20% off your registration!

With 13 camps to choose from, there is a summer camp for every child in your family! Elementary age camps include Superstar Dance Camp, Little Music Makers Camp, Puppetry Camp, Superhero Dance Camp, Big Top Circus Camp, Jedi Dance Camp, and Little Playwrights Camp. Middle schoolers will love Shakespeare the Death Scenes Camp, which includes instruction on stage combat and SFX Makeup.

New Spire Arts has also partnered with the Frederick Children’s Chorus to create a camp for older elementary and middle school kids, the Maryland School for the Deaf for a performing arts camp taught exclusively in ASL, the YMCA for a Circus Camp and a Music Video Camp, and Olney Theatre Center to bring their Summer Stock Camp to Frederick.

Register now!


You’re Invited to the New Spire Stages Groundbreaking

New Spire Arts is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking ceremony for New Spire Stages, a performing arts center located at 15 W Patrick Street on Wednesday, January 17th at 4:00 pm. The event will feature live performances, the reveal of theater models designed by Ziger/Snead, and kick off the construction of a dynamic theater and community space in Frederick’s theater district.

New Spire Arts received a catalyzing grant from the Ausherman Family Foundation in response to a long-time community need for a cultural hub in downtown Frederick with space for artists to create and present performing arts projects. New Spire Arts engaged AMS Planning & Research, one of the nation’s leading experts on developing intentional artist communities, to conduct an in depth strategic plan. AMS Planning & Research outlined the strategic plan for New Spire Arts’ vision and mission based on community feedback and was careful not to duplicate or compete with existing organizations. The goal of New Spire Arts is to lift all artists and arts organizations through its programming, partnerships, and providing a resource to the community.

As part of the strategic planning process, New Spire Arts and AMS Planning & Research worked closely with the Catherine French Group, a national executive recruitment firm, to conduct a nationwide search to identify a candidate to lead New Spire Arts. Following the extensive national search, Daniel Phoenix Singh, a DC based dancer and arts leader, was selected to lead New Spire Arts and implement the new strategic plan. Daniel brings a balanced leadership skill set to serve Frederick and New Spire Arts including an MBA and MFA in dance. He is excited to be working with New Spire Arts and will be announcing the inaugural 2018-2019 performing season in Spring 2018.

In partnership with Ausherman Development, New Spire Arts identified Ziger/Snead, the leading theater construction firm, for the design of the New Spire Stages performance venue. Following a survey of regional theaters and an assessment of community needs, Ziger/Snead designed a flexible theater space that will be suitable for an array of performing artists ranging from music, theater, dance, comedy, to family theater. An opening gala weekend is scheduled for October 2018. Singh will conduct a series of town hall meetings to solicit community input for the programming options. “New Spire Arts looks forward to your continued support and engagement as we launch our first season of performances” said Singh.

A one-million-dollar capital campaign is currently underway for the completion of New Spire Stages. To date, the project has received $600,000 from the Maryland state tax credit program for its innovative mission. In addition, New Spire Arts is grateful for the generous support from PNC Bank and the Randall Family.


Grants Available to Artists for Rental Space

Thanks to a new grant program made possible by Ausherman Family Foundation, artists and arts organizations can now get a grant from the Frederick Arts Council to cover the cost of renting space at New Spire Spaces.

You can download the application here.


New Spire Studios: Before and After

WOW! Check out the difference on the first floor of New Spire Studios (115 E Church St). Amazing what knocking down some walls, new carpet, and a fresh coat of paint can do to rejuvinate a space! We can’t wait to start our education programs at the end of this summer.