CLAREMONT — Thanks to New Hampshire State Council on the Arts ($20,000), Mascoma Bank Foundation ($10,000) and Claremont Savings Bank ($2,000), the Claremont Opera House Theater Seat Restoration Project has begun.
These grants will enable COH to repair the seating on 300 of the 519 seats in the orchestra level. The per chair cost is $100. Many of the seats are stained from use over the years and the sun coming through the windows has rotted some of the fabric exposing the deteriorating foam. Other grants are currently being written to finish the balance of the 219 orchestra seats.
The restoration is being done by Bartholomew Contract Interiors from Hartford Conn. BCI and David Eckstein were highly recommended by Friends of the Audi who recently restored their seating in Concord. The Audi awarded BCI with a Certificate of Excellence Award. BCI is using a fabric very close to the original fabric and will be keeping the historical features, such as the under-the-seat hat racks of the seats, intact.
Because the seats have to be removed and taken to Connecticut for their repairs, BCI will work around the COH show schedule. There may be some shows where there will be some seats missing.
Sponsored by NHSCA and Mascoma Bank Foundation and Claremont Savings Bank, this first phase of the lower level should be completed by June in time for the annual full house for Jenkins and Stardancer Dance Recitals. When the lower level, which is showing more wear is completed, the balcony level will be addressed.
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