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Aerial view of Salem historic city center including Salem Witch Museum and Andrew Safford

Thanks to all of you who’ve responded to our recent appeal with gifts and to those who’ve reached out encouraging us as we attempt to raise $14,000 to develop construction plans for the midlevel of our building so we can open again soon. The work has begun!


As a reminder, we are taking the first step in a capital improvement plan that will create a self-sustaining arts and culture hub to serve Salem and the North Shore for years to come. We received a generous $65,000 CPA grant from the city, but we must raise the balance through individual donations, partnerships, and grantmakers. 


As we look for grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies, those entities and other potential partners will look for high numbers of small donations and strong community support when they consider our applications. That’s where you come in.



It’s been a long and frustrating couple of years being closed and with financial and organizational setbacks. We’ve had no event-related income since 2021. But we’re optimistic! There’s buzz on how the city and others could use a space like ours and how we’re poised to become the hub for artistic, cultural, and community events that we envisioned in 2015. We’ve even taken the bold move of hiring a building use coordinator for five hours a week. 


If you would like to help us in our efforts, you can do so by making a charitable donation.


You can also support us by spreading the word: “Hey, you know that old church across from the train station where we attended a concert/saw a play/viewed the galleries? They plan to open again.


We’d appreciate you boosting our story in any way you can!

We are excited to tell you we’ve received a Community Preservation Act (CPA)* grant that will help us develop plans to facilitate the installation of fire suppression and make the main level of our building safe and accessible to all. This is our first step in a capital improvement plan that will create a self-sustaining arts and culture hub to serve Salem and the North Shore for years to come!

 

Although the CPA grant was substantial ($65,000), we must raise $14,000 to pay the balance through individual donations, partnerships, and grantmakers. As our plans take wing to honor our past and reimagine our future, we must humbly ask for your support! By pitching in you can help ensure that the second life of this storied building, whose cornerstones reflect a belief in the inherent value of every person, is secure.

 

 

But why give money to a building? Good question, but we are much more than that! Ten years ago, many of you encouraged us to form The Bridge at 211 to keep this landmark from being converted into offices or residential condominiums. The vision was to preserve more than a building, but an architectural gem whose walls contain a rich repository of Salem’s history and lore along with stories waiting to be told. For those of you who weren’t in on those early conversations, our recent adaptive reuse study confirms that the active arts and arts education facility we aim to create will:

 

  • boost downtown development

  • align with “Imagine Salem” as a bricks and mortar project supported by market demand

  • enhance the city’s sense of community and authenticity

  • provide a significant positive impact with new programming opportunities

  • embrace the community’s diversity

  • help sustain local businesses

  • provide employment opportunities, and

  • play a role in entertaining the influx of fall visitors

 

The study also ensured that our ultimate goals are attainable and realistic.

 

Aspirational? Yes.

Possible? Yes, with your help!

 

 

We must remain closed during this time and will not be booking any events until this construction work is complete and we comply fully with the city’s building code requirements - but we hope to begin booking events soon.

*When combined with matching funds from the statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund, this dedicated fund is used to preserve historic buildings and resources, as well as other assets and initiatives.

Introducing The Bridge at 211’s new blog, where we will be sharing information on our latest developments, exciting plans for the building, ongoing updates on our fundraising goals, and opportunities for you to get involved. Make sure to also sign up for our email updates and follow us on social media to stay in the loop with everything we’re working on behind the scenes!

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