NEWBURYPORT — Efforts to restore the historic Belleville Meetinghouse recently received a $35,000 boost from a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant.
“We need to match this grant by May 1,” said Belleville Arts Foundation President Marcia Shoemaker.
The grant was awarded so the meetinghouse at 300 High St. could be renovated into a community performing arts center that preserves the building’s historic features and offers modern amenities. The need for renovations was highlighted by Belleville Congregational Church’s decision to close the building’s doors last month.
The nonprofit foundation’s mission is to preserve, maintain and improve the meetinghouse and use it as a civic hub, venue for the arts and community center for Greater Newburyport, according to its website.
Shoemaker spoke of the meetinghouse’s history.
“It’s been used I think since 1867, and for the past 30-plus years the Newburyport Choral Society has been using the building and they have their concerts in there,” Shoemaker said.
About a decade ago, Belleville Roots was formed by members of the church and community to host more concerts in the building, according to Shoemaker.
“Roots does about six concerts a year in there and the Choral Society does four to six a year – it depends on the time of year,” Shoemaker said. “So it’s really a community treasure, this building. and it’s been in need of repairs for quite awhile.”
With the meetinghouse no longer an option for shows, Belleville Roots has hosted concerts in the nearby 250-person-capacity Stage Room.
“Roots is absolutely going strong,” Shoemaker said.
Recent shows at Belleville included zydeco legend and Creole music pioneer Nathan Williams, bluesman Corey Harris and progressive bluegrass band The SteelDrivers.
With the foundation’s creation, the hope was to see the meetinghouse transformed into an arts hub.
“We are making progress toward making the Belleville Meetinghouse a premier arts center,” said foundation Vice President Phil Smith.
The process began by applying to the Mass Cultural Council for the grant.
“We were very excited to receive it,” Shoemaker said. “Now, we’re trying to match the funds, and then we’re going to work with some restoration experts and other people and get a big overall plan to really enhance what’s already there and do some renovations.”
He said plans for fundraising are still in the early ideas phase.
“We’ve talked and there’s a wide range of opportunities for concerts that will be benefit concerts,” Shoemaker said. “There’s been some artist shows that we’ve been talking about, lectures, and all these things will be fundraisers.”
Shoemaker said they plan on reaching out to other local community arts organizations to see what their thoughts are about the space and how it could be used.
To make a donation, mail a check to: Belleville Arts Foundation, Inc. 300 High Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.