At a recent meeting, Arts Jubilee’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to seek an alternative location for the 2006 Summer Outdoor Concert Series in order to provide a site where ample parking, a quiet and clean venue and safe surroundings for children and families is available. Cranmore Mountain Resort has agreed to provide the base of the north slope to Arts Jubilee for these outdoor concerts for 2006 as a gift.

Due to the schedule for reconstruction of the roads as part of the NH Department of Transportation by-pass construction, - specifically, Route 16/302 - the Main Street of North Conway village - Arts Jubilee’s Directors questioned the use of Schouler Park as the site of the outdoor concerts, a tradition that dates back to the early 1990's. The construction work will last for approximately 6 months covering approximately 1 mile from River Road / Pine Street at the northern village traffic light to Artist Falls Road at the southern end. Through newspapers, information given at pre-construction meetings, and ‘word on the street’, an impression of major upheaval in this area has already been given. The common impression is that July and August will present vehicular and pedestrian challenges in North Conway Village.

The decision to make the move to Cranmore was made at this time with three specific reasons in mind. First, the coordination of moving the large Arts Jubilee stage and concert shell, and the logistics for locating the sound enhancement and all satellite ingredients such as food concessions must be made well in advance in order to make a smooth transition. Second, advertising and publicity for the summer concerts must include location and directions for access well in advance for visitors who are planning to include the Arts Jubilee concerts in their vacation schedule as well as the convenience of area residents. And third, the safety of children who are able to wander about the concert area and the liability connected with the lure of construction equipment and the torn up pavement is a major concern.

“We have sought help from Cranmore as an alternative location - because we know it works and because we have a very solid relationship with Cranmore,” stated John Macdonald, President of the Arts Jubilee Board. “Our feeling was that re-locating at Cranmore was more advantageous than seeking alternate sites outside of the greater North Conway Village area. We would like to maintain our North Conway relationship and since the indoor concert series is to be located in the Cranmore air-conditioned 10th Mt. Pavilion, it made sense to locate the outdoor concerts at the Cranmore location as well in order to avoid any more confusion.”

Arts Jubilee has made a strong, vital and energetic commitment to present an expanded schedule of six concerts for the 2006 summer. Three of these concerts will be outdoors - traditionally held in Schouler Park, and three of the concerts are planned for indoors at the air-conditioned 10th Mountain Pavilion located at Cranmore. As a result of the Board’s decision, the 2006 outdoor concerts are planned for the base of the North Slope behind the Eating House with ample parking nearby. Audiences will have easy access to Cranmore by traveling either the North South Road, or coming from the north, turning into Intervale Crossroads and following Kearsarge Road to the Skimobile Road which leads to Cranmore.

Arts Jubilee is a non-profit organization and relies on corporate, private and community contributions in order to meet its $60,000 annual budget required to present the summer concerts. Presenting high quality live music performances in a beautiful natural setting, the concerts attract from 3,000 to 5,000-plus residents and visitors who come to enjoy a musical evening ‘under the stars’ at three free outdoor concerts, presented on Thursday nights in July and August. Since the information available concerning the summer road construction has been less than positive, the Board chose to make a decision early in order to best inform the public. The specter of severely limited parking, and dust and dirt from dug up pavement and sidewalks, as well as large equipment located nearby has directly impacted the safety, comfort and ambiance of the Schouler Park location.

In an email sent to members of the North Conway Village Association, Peter Edwards, President of the group said: “ I met on 5/2 with Cindy Russell and two of the board members of Arts Jubilee. They requested the meeting with me. The purpose of the meeting was to advise the Village Association of the board's decision to move the summer concert series from Schouler Park to Cranmore Mt. Resort. This was a decision that involved a lot of discussion and was not an easy decision for the board.”

Arts Jubilee is grateful for the generous support received from many village businesses and is mindful of the fact that these owners perceive the outdoor concerts as a village enhancement as well as an opportunity to ‘showcase’ their businesses to the large audience attending the concerts. In an effort to continue to make Arts Jubilee concert goers aware of the unique shops, restaurants, and services that exist in North Conway Village, the Arts Jubilee Board is prepared to work with the Village Association in a partnership to bring the best total 'product' to our concert goers.

“Schouler Park has always offered a uniquely beautiful community concert venue and we did not make the decision to re-locate lightly,” said Cindy Russell, Executive Director for Arts Jubilee. “We fully intend to celebrate our 25th season in 2007 back in the Schouler Park location if the village construction has been completed and the upgraded Schouler Park is available for us once again. In the meantime, we feel we have found the very best possible location at Cranmore where nature’s beauty and easy access will make our 2006 Summer Concerts a real family-friendly celebration of the arts.”

Full information about the Arts Jubilee Summer Season can be found at www.mwvevents.com.