AVA opened at its current location, 11 Bank Street in Lebanon, NH, the former H. W. Carter & Sons overall factory which had closed in 1985. AVA initially rented 1,750 sq ft on the first and second floors from an investment group named Northern Equities (later known as Bank Street Properties). Other businesses occupying the building were a land surveying office, The Upper Valley Carpet Center, a winter clothing company named Black Diamond, a videographer, and a graphic designer. Soon after, a few artists arrived to rent studio space. The new exhibition space had beautiful hardwood floors and high ceilings which contributed greatly to the ambiance of the gallery space. The new location also provided AVA with ample teaching space. AVA’s scholarship program and close collaboration with social services organizations helped make audiences not commonly associated with art galleries feel “at home” at AVA.
