TRURO CENTER FOR THE ARTS at
CASTLE HILL & EDGEWOOD FARM

1972 to 2022

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY

As we celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2022 with gratitude, pride and a great deal of excitement, we looked back with thanks for the many hands that built the Truro Center for the Arts. Working together, artists, administrators, volunteers and donors have supported us from dream to reality, through the challenges of growth and expansion and, most recently, the sobering reality of pandemic.

Today, thanks to the support and hard work of those many hands — thanks to you — we stand on a solid foundation, eager to build the future.

It all began in 1972, when a group of visionary artists led by Joyce Johnson launched our creative community in an historic barn, still in active use on the Castle Hill campus. We’ve grown considerably since then. Now we deliver up to 200 summer workshops at the Castle Hill and Edgewood Farm campuses; off-season, our Artist in Residence program, free workshops for Outer Cape residents and the annual International Encaustic Conference keep our studios and residences buzzing.

In early 2020, as a virus changed the world, we adapted. We began by offering with online workshops before cautiously adding a few outdoor workshops. A year later, safely designed indoor classes and the Artist in Residence program have returned. 

We launched a deep internal conversation and committed ourselves to authentic action to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do. Valuing differences in age, race, identity, ethnicity and experience builds a stronger, more creative community.   

As we move forward, education, openness, and community remain our key values. Our year-round educational experiences fostering intellectual, creative, and personal growth in an open, inclusive artistic environment will continue far into the future. 

Thank you to Richard Baker for the Graphic for the 50th!

BUILD FOR THE FUTURE 

We will upgrade our facilities and art-making equipment to cutting-edge standards. We will invest in the teaching artists and administrators that pull our high quality workshops together. And, we will strive for genuine inclusion by broadening outreach, keeping our workshops affordable and offering more scholarship opportunities.   

To celebrate our anniversary, we seek to raise $2 million dollars in capital, endowment and flexible advancement funds to build the future of the Truro Center for the Arts.

The time for this campaign is now.

We invite you to join us.

BUILD / CREATE / UPDATE  

$800,000 to build, restore and update the physical infrastructure of our two campuses to meet the needs of the next fifty years. 

Build a new two-story studio building at Edgewood Farm to create a state-of-the-art printmaking shop, a flexible studio, and much-needed basement storage space.

Attend to the aging structures that house our art, completing necessary repairs and preventative maintenance.

Update our facilities’ year-round comfort and utility by extending heat and air-conditioning to all our buildings, launching a solar installation project and upgrade the the presses, kilns, and hand tools that are fundamental to making art.

GROW CAPACITY / ENSURE THE FUTURE

$1,200,000 to build our capacity to lead, manage, and instruct by enhancing the invisible infrastructure ensures our future stability and growth.  

Deepen the financial foundation that enables us to plan with confidence, explore new ideas and serve our growing audience while ensuring our ability to manage the unexpected and safeguard our future sustainability.

Grow our staffing structure and invest in the the software and technology administrators and artists need to do their best. Boost teaching artists’ stipends to attract the very best workshop instructors.

Broaden and diversify workshop enrollment by increasing scholarship opportunities, maintaining moderate tuition, expanding outreach and marketing and developing innovative programs for youth and adults and people of color.  

YOUR SUPPORT / OUR SHARED FUTURE

Making a major gift is a creative act. It is an opportunity for you to be part of the future of the Truro Center for the Arts and to establish an example of philanthropy for others to join. Your investment is also a unique opportunity to be permanently recognized by attaching your name — or that of a family member or friend — to our 50th Anniversary Campaign. 

Your investment, either through an outright gift or a pledge of up to three years, is essential to our future. Ask about Naming Opportunities and join us in BUILDING THE FUTURE OF OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY.

BUDGET

BUILD / CREATE / UPDATE $800,000

• Build a new green Printmaking Studio Building, build out a 3-d Studio and design / build a connecting outdoor deck $585,000

• Create a Plan for Programs and facilities on Edgewood Farm Lot 2 $ 75,000

• Update Edgewood & Castle Hill Facilities $140,000

GROW CAPACITY / ENSURE THE FUTURE $1,200,000

• Build our Endowment, Invest in staffing, teachers & the Future $750,000

• Scholarships to diversify Enrollment $150,000

• Invest in technology, software, and our Administrative Capacity $ 50,000

• Reduce Long Term Debt $250,000

50th CAMPAIGN GOAL $2,000,000

The 50th Honorary Committee

Mark Bittman
State Senator Julian Cyr
*Carol Green
Deborah Dancy
Michael David
Yvette Dubinsky
Mona Dukess
Sharon Fay & Maxine Schaffer
Del Filardi & *Harriet Rubin
Robert Henry
Robert & *Leslie Jackson
Patricia Jones
Chris & Sally Lutz
State Representative Sarah Peake
Judy Pfaff
Ruth Reichl
Dian Reynolds
Alison Saar
Joan Snyder

*deceased

The Castle Hill Timeline

1972: A small group of artists led by sculptor Joyce Johnson, present workshops in painting, drawing, sculpture,  printmaking, ceramics, writing, weaving & jewelry making. First year offered 12 classes. 

1976: Purchase of the barn and windmill gives Castle Hill a stable home. 42 workshops presented. 

1981: Visiting Artist Program established, beginning a decade of growth. Pulitzer Prize winners Joel Meyerowitz  and Alan Dugan began long-term teaching relationships, the Artists in Schools program began. Helen Frankenthaler,  Grace Hartigan, Faith Ringgold, Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Yoshiko Takaezu all served as Honorary Chairs and  the barn was expanded with a new painting studio. 

1985: 80 workshops were held, gas kiln built, staff expanded to four. 

1987: Shut down for a year for building code violations, classes were moved to the Schoolhouse Gallery  in North Truro. 

1991: Began Senior Program, offering free classes in the off-season to local seniors. 

1995: President Carol Green started the endowment for the upcoming 25th Anniversary. 600 students attended  workshops, over 1000 participated in events and lecture series 

1996: 25th Anniversary! 

2001: Purchased One Depot Road, to become our printmaking studio. 

2002: Executive Director Cherie Mittenthal arrived at Castle Hill ! Year-round programming began at One  Depot Rd. 73 classes. 

2005: Year-round print co-op began. Castle Hill classes offered credit with the Art Institute of Boston, Lesley University and Cape Cod Community College. 126 classes! 

2006: New Partnership with Adam Miller to start the Provincetown Dance Festival 

2008-2009: Renovated and winterized the clay studio and insulated office tower, barn made handicapped  accessible. 700 students, 131 classes. 

2011: - Built the first and only Wood Kiln on Cape Cod and became a partner with the Cape Cod National Seashore. Became the Producer of the International Encaustic Conference with Joanne Mattera as the director.

2012: Purchased 12 Meetinghouse Road for classes and housing. 195 Classes and Events, 1,000 Students. 

2016: Led by Cherie and President Kim Kettler, raised over 1.7 million to purchase and renovate the historic  Edgewood Farm, former home of founding member, artist Eleanor Meldahl, allowing us to expand classes and  house students and faculty. Castle Hill be-gan running the International Encaustic Conference. 199 Classes  and Events, 1,174 Students. Founder Joyce Johnson bequeaths Castle Hill her rustic Truro home. 

2017: Kathy Fahle, with years of arts administration managerial experience, joins as Managing Director. Sold 1 Depot  Road, moving print shop to Edgewood Farm. Began holding classes at both campuses. Housed 53 Students  for summer programs. 200 Classes, 1,071 Students. 

2019: New Truro Conservation Trust partnership to manage the historic Corn Hill Boat-house to Castle Hill for  faculty and student housing.  During the decade, poets Robert Pinsky and Richard Blanco gave readings and work-shops; Janet Eichelman  and Mark Dion served the Woody English Chairs; and painter Joan Snyder and Tetsunori Kawana were honored with the Joyce Johnson Chair. 

2020: The year of the pandemic shuts down in-person interaction. Within weeks, Castle Hill begins offering  virtual workshops in painting, clay, sculpture and more. 78 online classes were taken by 635 students around  the world, expanding our audience greatly. 

2021: Our campuses becomes alive again with a mix of in-person and virtual classes. A new wood kiln and a  stage for performance and lectures are built at Edgewood Farm.  

2022: 50th Anniversary! Cherie will celebrate her 20th year at Castle Hill!

ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY AND LOYALTY OF THOSE WHO LOVE CASTLE HILL.