Making Good: Prescott Park Arts Festival

Our family is so incredibly fortunate to live where we do, for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons is Prescott Park Arts Festival. Almost every Wednesday night in the summer, you can find us stretched out on a blanket in the grass, overlooking the Piscataqua River, munching on a picnic dinner. Now, that would be a pretty awesome evening on its own, but we’re doing all of that while watching the most amazing bands perform under the stars at the Prescott Park Arts Festival concert series. So far this summer, we’ve seen Steve Earle & The Dukes, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Neko Case, and Richard Thompson – and we already have our summer planned out so we don’t miss any of the other bands coming for the rest of the summer, as well as a few performances of the theater production (Peter Pan!) and a couple movies under the stars.

We wholeheartedly love going to the shows, but in my mind, the best and most endearing part of what this gem of the Seacoast offers is admission on a donation-only basis. There is no fixed admission, so families and individuals of all financial situations can attend, regardless of their ability to pay. The acts Prescott Park Arts Festival presents on its stage are world class, but their commitment to offer the opportunity to see those acts to the entire community is incredibly special. Portsmouth is lucky to have such a phenomenal asset in its midst, so I thought it would be fun to shine a little spotlight and let all of you Made + Remade readers know that if you’ll be in New England anytime this summer, make sure to check out the calendar and make your way to Prescott Park for a show!

Tell us a little about Prescott Park Arts Festival – who are you and what do you do?
Prescott Park Arts Festival (PPAF) is a non-profit arts origination that provides high caliber arts entertainment to all on a pay-what-you-can basis. Everyone is welcome, regardless of their ability to contribute financially.

Running an operation as large as PPAF on a donation-only basis must be daunting. What’s the history of that policy, and how do you manage to operate such a massive undertaking on an income that could be potentially unstable? Why take the risk when you could just charge a small fee per person?
Our mission is simple. We want everyone to enjoy what we offer and if we made paid admission mandatory, it just wouldn’t work. We never want anyone to be excluded from enjoying the exceptional quality of the shows we produce. All are welcome, whether they’re struggling to keep their lights on or put food on the table. We are passionate about our commitment to sharing the magic and memories of live entertainment with the entire community.

I was just listening to a podcast talking about the “free-rider” problem facing public goods – such as street musicians. As PPAF is, in essence, a public good, what do you think drives patrons to actually donate, when it would be so easy to attend, but not contribute?
I think what we offer is special, not only for our community, but also for the individuals and families who attend our concerts, theater performances, movie nights and other events. Our patrons have a strong connection to our organization, and we have a history here in beautiful downtown Portsmouth. We’ve welcomed multiple generations of some families, who then introduce their friends and families to our events. All of that creates an environment where our community readily supports us, financially and otherwise. About half of our patrons donate at our gates. Half of that half makes the suggested donation. Our gate revenue helps, but we rely heavily on other revenue sources to maintain operational stability. Concessions, merchandise, sponsorships, memberships and annual fundraising special events keep us financially progressive.

PPAF exists on public land, the namesake Prescott Park. How does that work? I imagine there are benefits and drawbacks…
Operating on city property can be challenging. We’re blessed to host our events on such a picturesque landscape, but the drawbacks and restrictions keep us creative!

What’s the lineup this summer look like? Is there one act in particular you think will be a smash hit?
Our lineup is always impressive. Year after year, we strive to bring groundbreaking artists and acts to our stage. Up and coming artist are nearly always guaranteed and I’ve watching bands in their infancy perform on our main stage only to explode overnight into a smashing success. 

Which segment of your community do you think most benefits from access to PPAF and why?
Obviously, those who attend our shows reap the benefits of a diverse calendar of live arts entertainment throughout the summer. But in my mind, local businesses also benefit from our shows. Small business owners, restaurants and boutiques alike in the downtown area are always eager for our season to kick off. The festival is a gem and draws huge crowds. Our local business owners look to us each season to draw in new customers.

How does PPAF impact the community of Portsmouth and surrounding towns?
Operating a 40+ year old festival in a quickly growing community has challenges. Although the local economy benefits greatly, it also comes with a cost. Sound, parking and traffic have been hot button issues as of recent. We work hard to maintain our position as good neighbors, but the struggle to balance progressive growth in mixed residential neighborhood is tough.

What are some of the highlights of the festivals rich history?
The festival was once operated by the Trustees of the Trust. Run entirely on a volunteer basis and providing arts entertainment on a community driven level. After 41 years the festival is now operated with a full staff supported by a board of directors and offers a caliber of entertainment that can only be matched by venues charging high, fixed admissions. We have grown to be an absolutely exceptional venue over these past 41 years.

It sounds like summer is an incredibly fast and busy time for your team. How many employees/volunteers make up the PPAF crew?
PPAF is operated by a core year round staff of 5…that’s right, 5. Once our season gets rolling we bring a seasonal staff of approximately 35 and in addition, a cast and crew of 40-55 each year for our musical production.

For those not living near New England, are there other free/donation-based festivals around the country?
There are a few – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco is well worth the trip. CHIRP in Ridgefield, Connecticut is a great concert series that’s smaller and more intimate. There are a few scattered through New York City and Brooklyn. That being said, I’m pretty partial and I don’t think there’s anything else out there as awesome as Prescott Park…

See what I mean about Prescott Park Arts Festival? It really is the gem of New England. We head over to the shows as often as we can get away with it and we enjoy every single second. I sincerely hope this amazing resource continues to grow and build each year. What kind of summer traditions do you have in your area? What are the must-see, can’t-miss hot spots near you?

This post is part of our Making Good series about makers who use their DIY skills to better their communities. Check back for more Making Good posts, including ideas you can bring to your own community.