Next Stage formed in 2010 when a group of community members recognized the opportunity to stimulate cultural engagement and economic vitality through the adaptive re-use of a former 1841 landmark church in the village center of Putney, Vermont. After a $2MM renovation, Next Stage includes an intimate, fully accessible state of the art performance venue, the smaller Next Stage Cafe, and a commercial kitchen. Next Stage has received national recognition, including major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and ArtPlace America, and now engages a wide range of constituents through the presentation of over 100 events annually including world-class performing arts, music, theater, spoken word and film in addition to our extensive educational collaborations in the community. 2020 will mark the project’s 10th anniversary.