Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Noah.
Fort Point Theatre Channel was founded ten years ago by a group of artists who were based at Midway Artist Studios in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood. This core group of artists, all of whom are considered co-artistic directors, wanted to create a company that produces new configurations of the performing arts, allowing for work that blends multiple artistic disciplines and champions collaboration.
Today, there are 23 active co-artistic directors specializing in a diverse array of fields including theatre, film, music composition, sculpture, graphic design, letterpress, movement, and performance art, among others. Co-artistic directors present project ideas at all stages of development, and the group decides how to program each season based upon these proposals. FPTC supports artistic work as it develops by hosting both private salons and public Exclamation Points (informal gatherings that introduce and explore new works), as well as fully-realized major productions.
As they celebrate their tenth anniversary this year, they are also looking to create more structure and support to ensure a successful future for the organization. They are currently working to establish a formal Board of Directors consisting of both internal and external members of the community, who will help them increase their administrative and fundraising capacity. They have multiple exciting projects under development and can’t wait to see where the next ten years take them!
Has it been a smooth road?
Producing fringe theatre and performing arts in never easy. There is a relatively finite pool of both funding and available performance venues for organizations of our size in Boston, and there are many companies making excellent work who are vying for those resources. We have been very lucky in the foundation and corporate support we have been able to secure for both specific projects and operating support. Since we have been around so long, we have also been able to build a strong local following who supports us by buying tickets and making small donations. Because we have co-artistic directors from multiple artistic disciplines, we have deep connections with artists and organizations across the city and are thus able to leverage resources to maximal effect. I think our biggest advantage, though, and what has helped us to secure such invaluable funding, is our unique mission to create and sustain new configurations for the performing arts. There aren’t really any other organizations in Boston who blend artistic disciplines and engage in collaborative expression the way FPTC does, and that is what keeps our co-artistic directors, our patrons, and our funders inspired.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As I mentioned previously, we specialize in creating and sustaining new configurations of the performing arts. We are known for programming that involves multidisciplinary projects that are innovative and take risks. We are also known for our spirit of collaboration and the variety of free and ticketed productions and artistic experiences that we produce. The uniqueness of our mission in the Boston community sets us apart, and is also something we’re incredibly proud of.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Boston has a thriving arts scene, at the fringe, mid-size, and major levels. It offers a lot of local funding (as compared to other cities of its size) for arts companies and artists, which is definitely a major benefit. I would say that where Boston struggles is 1) the lack of affordable and well-equipped performance venues and 2) the diversity of programming that receives funding. If the city can invest in more and better performance spaces and make a real effort to ensure it is funding diverse companies and artists, I think it will be in a much better position to attract artists in the future.
Contact Info:
- Address: Midway Artist Studios
15 Channel Center Street #318
Boston, MA 02210 - Website: www.fortpointtheatrechannel.org
- Phone: 617.750.8900
- Email: marc@fortpointtheatrechannel.org
- Instagram: @fortpointtc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortPointTheatreChannel
- Twitter: @fortpointtc
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