ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – After a year of being closed Catamount Arts is finally back open.
The organization was forced to close the art center in St. Johnsbury last June after environmental testing during an expansion project discovered traces of toxic chemicals in air samples.
The organization had been using different locations to make sure their programing kept going.
Catamount marked the re-opening with a celebration where hundreds of community members put on a parade for the non-profit.
Executive Director Jody Fried says he is looking forward to getting back in the building and he sees how much his community needed the arts back open.
“We take for granted the work that is being done in the creative sector. It’s not often considered essential, in yet it is. It’s essential not only to the economic piece when we have shows, it brings money into town. But it’s essential to the well being of the community,” said Jody Fried, Catamount Arts Executive Director.
Fried says the organization is now more focused on their summer concert series to kick off their return.