History of AVA
AVA's 50 Years
1973
The Barn
The Community Gallery opened its first exhibition in the rustic barn of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Nye in Norwich, VT with the occasion announced in the local Valley News newspaper on August 28, 1973.
1974
Move to Hanover
The Community Gallery had grown to include 35 artists and relocated to South Main Street in Hanover, NH, where it shared space with Harris Business Machines.
1975
Move to Allen Street
The gallery moved to the second floor of 3 Allen Street in Hanover, NH.
1976
Non Profit Status
The gallery received non-profit status and became incorporated as the Community Gallery Inc.
1978
Name Changed to AVA
A Board of Directors was elected, and the organization acquired the name AVA, or “Alliance for the Visual Arts” and began offering art classes.
1985
First Director
AVA moved to the second floor of 5 Allen Street behind Dartmouth Bookstore. Elizabeth Austin became AVA’s director, a position she held until the end of 1986.
1986
Bente Torjusen West Joins AVA
Bente Torjusen West begins her tenure at AVA as Executive Director.
1988
Education Program
AVA’s education program expanded to include artists and audiences of all ages.
1990
AVA Moves to Lebanon, NH
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.
2003
AVA Purchases the Carter Building
AVA purchases the 11 Bank Street building and launches its first capital campaign.
2007
Renovation Complete
Building renovation was completed at 11 Bank Street, and the building was named the Carter-Kelsey Building. The number of available below-market-rate artist studios was increased to 20.
2008
Carter-Kelsey Building Awarded LEED Certification
AVA’s renovation project received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold rating, with 47 points, just shy of the Platinum LEED rating. AVA’s renovation of its 140-year-old building in downtown Lebanon resulted in many transformations: an important piece of historic Lebanon was preserved; a previously inaccessible building now welcomed people of all ages and abilities; and a building riddled with safety violations and structural deficiencies was thoroughly upgraded to comply with 21st-century international building codes.
2014
Branching Out-Deepening Roots Campaign
The Branching Out Deepening Roots campaign was launched, and the 4,000-square-foot sculptural studies building was built and opened with studios for welding, woodworking, ceramics, and stone carving.
2016
Bente Retires
Bente Torjusen West retires after 30-years as AVA’s Executive Director.
2017
Sculptural Studies Building Opens
AVA opened its newly constructed Bente Torjusen West Sculptural Studies Building at 9 Bank Street, funded by the Branching Out-Deepening Roots Campaign.
2019
Sculptural Studies Building Awarded LEED Status
The SSB was awarded LEED Certification at the Silver level, making AVA’s entire campus LEED certified, a unique achievement for a nonprofit arts organization.
2020
From Seed to Bloom Campaign
AVA launched the From Seed to Bloom Comprehensive Campaign to raise $2.7 million.
2021
Members Gallery Opens
AVA opened its Members Gallery, a dedicated space for artist members to show and sell their work, echoing its original mission of exhibiting the work of local artists.
2023
AVA Celebrates 50 Years
AVA celebrates 50 years of supporting and nurturing the creative spirit through its exhibition, community, and educational programming in the Upper Valley.
