PUTNEY, Vt. – The Next Stage Arts search for a new executive director has come to a happy ending, with the recent hiring of Natalie Dreyer, who brings a decade’s worth of experience to the position, having led multiple arts initiatives that have focused on collaboration, access, and creativity. Dreyer also comes to Next Stage with deep ties to the Putney community, and will begin her tenure in September.
“I first heard about the position from one of my closest friends and colleagues,” Dreyer said in a recent interview. “We used to work together in Providence, and after life took us in different directions and she moved home to Putney where she grew up, we had joked about what might happen if an interesting position ever opened up in their area. Fast-forward a few years, and my friend sent me the Next Stage posting, and the more I researched it, the more I felt like I was put in the right place at the right time.”
“Natalie comes to Next Stage with a depth of experience in the nonprofit art space, and a rich understanding of the essential role arts play in enriching our lives and communities,” Board Cochair Heather Brubaker recently stated.
“She’s the right person to manifest our strategic vision for the next five years by expanding collaborations with the educational institutions in our region, developing our workshops and artist residencies, and pursuing other creative uses of our space.”
Some of Dreyer’s experience includes leading arts education initiatives that focus on access, collaboration, and creativity. Most recently at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, she led a network of more than 100 teaching artists, and has designed and grown programs such as a Creative Arts Camp and a multidistrict Arts Integration Initiative. Prior to that, at Trinity Repertory Company, Dreyer developed and led school partnerships that integrated the arts into classrooms serving diverse student populations.
The hiring of Dreyer coincides with a new five-year plan, developed after accumulating extensive input from educational sources, community members, and both cultural and business partners. Along with Next Stage’s consistent, diverse, high-quality programming, the five-year plan will also prioritize an ongoing commitment to serving the local community in more unique and innovative ways, which goes hand in hand with strengthening the financial foundation as well.
The aforementioned five-year plan was developed by the board of directors as part of their upcoming 15th anniversary. The plan focuses on solidifying the financial and organizational practices, allowing for more flexibility and possible risk-taking, to ensure that Next Stage continues to be a vital hub that supports Putney and the surrounding communities, and to build on the current success of the nonprofit by offering more world-class entertainment, while also continuing to build new audiences.
“I am excited to meet and immerse myself in the community,” Dreyer concluded. “Next Stage was born out of an extraordinary grassroots effort, and I want to ensure that the direction we take moving forward reflects the voices and values of the people who call this area home. I’m eager to listen – to learn what people already love about Next Stage, to strengthen partnerships, and to explore new collaborations that expand experiences and perspectives.
“I see the arts as a powerful tool for connection in a time when so much can feel divided. My hope is that Next Stage will continue to be a space where people come together – not just to be entertained, but to be inspired, challenged, and united.” For more information, visit www.nextstagearts.org.