FREEPORT — The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Freeport has signed a long-term lease agreement with the First Parish Congregational Church that will allow the completion of its new arts and cultural center, Meetinghouse Arts, in downtown Freeport. The necessary renovations to the church’s sanctuary and adjacent spaces are expected to be completed by the Warren Construction Group Inc. by the end of 2020.

Meetinghouse Arts will be home to a 200-seat performance and presentation space that will provide a venue for theatrical productions, concerts and other artistic and cultural presentations. It will also include a gallery for the visual arts. Meetinghouse Arts will be used by both local organizations and touring shows and will provide a new creative focal point for the greater Freeport area and strengthen its creative economy.

“We are very excited about this project,” says Nancy Salmon, ACAF board of directors president. “More than ever we need the humanities and all of the visual, performing and literary arts to bring us together, engage our minds and our hearts, soothe our souls and support our brightest hopes for our community and our humanity. We are joining with First Parish Church, which was Freeport’s original Meeting House, to create a gathering place for artists, community members and visitors in downtown Freeport.”

The opening of Meetinghouse Arts will achieve one of the important goals identified in ACAF’s Cultural Plan for the Greater Freeport area. Plans for the renovations have been developed to provide a high-quality venue that is flexible enough in its design to accommodate a variety of creative needs. At the same time, Meetinghouse Arts will continue to be used by the church for Sunday services and other needs.

ACAF is working to raise the visibility of the artistic and cultural activities that the Greater Freeport Area has to offer. It is dedicated to fostering arts and culture by enhancing artistic and cultural opportunities for all members of the community, including youth, and promoting the local arts and culture. Its goal is to build the resources necessary to meet the collective needs of Greater Freeport’s performing and visual artists and cultural groups. For more about ACAF, visit FreeportArtsAndCulture.org.