The new Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center is a place for the entire community to rejoice.

“To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not enough time.” 

-Leonard Bernstein

In this day and age, we are familiar with busy schedules, long to do lists that demand our attention, and bucket lists that only seem to grow instead of diminish. Thankfully the forces behind the new Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center in Brewster didn’t allow any of the traditional, or even the unexpected non-traditional delays like a once in a 100-year pandemic deter them from their mission.
The newly built beacon of possibility is a showcase for world-class artistic presentations and musical performance, across a variety of genres.

In the spirit of the adage, “it takes a village,” the impressive design is credited to the talented architects at Architectural Design in Orleans. The collaboration of both the architects and visionaries from Arts Empowering Life created a structure that can truly be heralded as a uniquely imagined space. Inspired by the four elements of earth, wind, fire and water, the center’s thoughtfully appointed components include the banks of windows which wrap the upper half of the ground floor, the tasteful choice of materials that seem to have sprouted from the surrounding landscape and the soaring lighthouse inspired tower.

The construction of the facility was directed by HSO Contracting from Orleans and the labor was augmented by a legion of volunteers whose sweat equity literally created something for the community, from the community. Eastham’s Ponderosa Landscaping was responsible for the design and installation of the well-manicured grounds, which were also realized with the help of local neighbors and residents who are directly benefited by the center’s existence.

Paul Tingley, Program Coordinator, says the newly opened facility is poised for a robust season. The intention for enjoyment of the space was centered around the vision of a place to gather, experience and celebrate the arts. To that end, there are several scheduled performances over the summer in the main hall where capacity comfortably accommodates over 475 guests. Other performance spaces were considered in the overall design as it would meet the needs of the community and allow for flexibility with sliding and folding walls that can carve out space for groups anywhere between 25 and 175 attendees. 

The center also has designated spacious areas which allow for music instruction, conferences, guest lecturers and even reception areas such as the extensive second story outdoor deck. The vision for the center focused on delivering excellence in the arts—opportunities to experience, share, learn and present a wide range of expression. “Probably our biggest performance to date is going to be August 10th and 11th,” Tingley shares. “There will be five opera singers with distinguished careers singing selections from beloved operas. It should be a glorious and historic opportunity to see something of this caliber on this scale on the Cape.” Tingley goes on to explain that the lecture series planned for this season includes creative speakers who share the healing and transforming power of music. “Andrew Schumann is a guitarist who while in a medically induced coma benefited from the music of Johann Sebastian Bach when his wife implored the medical staff to play it for him. He now has made a career working with hospitals and emergency rooms and people in critical care because he personally has found music to be that impactful,” he says. For those who may have missed one of the lecture series, Tingley says the center offers them on YouTube afterwards.

“Our programs are meant to enrich individuals and the community as a whole,” Tingley states. “That is why we strive to have programs that can span generations and interests.” One dynamic element the center offers and has grown substantially over the past year: the Outer Cape Winds Ensemble. Tingley who serves as the band director for 20 musicians, plays the trumpet and says what started as a handful of six like-minded musicians has grown to almost two dozen enthusiastic members including some parent/child participants.

The center committed to raising the funds and raising the structure in just one year. Now, barely a year after opening, the need for funds continues, yet the center’s commitment of providing space to present unique and intriguing arts performances appears to be boundless. 

To view all upcoming events, click here.

Julie Craven Wagner is the editor of Cape Cod ART.