Dear Friends of the Gloucester Meetinghouse,

This year 2025 — our milestone 10^th anniversary in operation — brought a wealth of activity to the historic 1806 Meetinghouse. The renovation of our parkland bore fruit as we hosted the most successful season to date of Music on Meetinghouse Green. The lush new lawn, granite lined allée, and young elms delighted large crowds at nine free Friday night events. Free will donations for local non-profits broke all records, reaching over $2500 for some concerts!

This followed the 2024-25 Series featuring our annual celebration of Martin Luther King Day, Kory Curcuru’s Timeline Cape Ann videos, the annual Bach birthday concert, local folk singer Miranda Aisling, and a rare concert on the pipe organ and violin. This Fall we hosted the sixth annual Cape Ann Classic Cars on the Green, the Cape Ann debut of New England Conservatory’s exuberant Trio Gaia, and our annual silent movie event, featuring Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, accompanied by Peter Krasinski on the pipe organ. There’s more unparalleled programing coming up in the Meetinghouse through June. We deeply appreciate the sponsors who have provided funding dedicated to these events – they could not happen without you!

We are dreaming big! A Capital Campaign is planned that will fund the final phases of the building restoration, hiring of professional staff, and creation of an endowment fund. The transformative interior renovation will include clean-energy climate control and reopening the balcony for a game-changing capacity of 500 seats. The result will be a sustainable, large, cultural venue with concert-hall acoustics in Federal Style splendor – a community treasure without peer on Boston’s North Shore.

Today, we are seeking your support for our Annual Fund, with a goal of raising $50,000. The GMF is still primarily a volunteer organization. After ten years at the helm, I am ready to hand over operations to a professional team as we continue to expand our programming and tackle some near-term projects such as re- lighting of the 125’ lantern tower and making some important interior lighting, audio and video upgrades. Your contributions are essential to the mission of transforming the iconic Meetinghouse into Gloucester’s civic hub and performing arts center.

We appreciate everyone who has contributed their time, energy and money to the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation. We honor and thank you, in advance, for making the most generous contribution possible to our Annual Fund in this momentous 10^th anniversary year.

Deepest gratitude from the Board and myself,

Charles Nazarian, President
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation