A Message from the Executive Director: Celebrating Ten Years of 3S Artspace!

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Image credits: Karina Rykman / Shadowork Photography (bottom left), 2024 Project Upcycle / Alyssa Duncan Photography (bottom right), Noticing Light exhibit / Christina Watka (top left), Anya Marina / Matt Pond (top right)

Hi! I'm Beth Falconer, the Executive Director of 3S Artspace.

Wow. I can’t believe it’s 2025. For years, we would dream of the day we would reach this milestone — ten years open to the public! At times, it felt inevitable, and at others, nearly impossible. Yet, here we are, and I couldn’t be more grateful. It’s a moment of inflection and reflection — both personal and professional. Most importantly, it’s a moment of celebration. To every performer, artist, attendee, volunteer, member, donor, employee — look what we’ve done! We have shared so many magical moments together. Thank you.

The dream work and planning began before my time, and for that early work, I am extremely grateful. For five years before we opened our doors for full-time operations, plans were made, partnerships were established, and a building was renovated. The stage was set. When I walked into 3S and onto that stage for the first time, something just clicked. I couldn’t stop thinking about the place or the people. From the people around the interview table to the first meetings with staff. They made an impact. I was so impressed by the risk it took to envision a contemporary arts space in a community already enriched with fabulous opportunities. Could a historic town embrace a new organization dedicated to the work of today? This team hoped so, and their enthusiasm was infectious.

So many moments stand out to me over my time here. One was meeting Nancy Pearson for drinks and having her say, rather incredulously, “You’re doing this with teenagers at home?!” And I thought about how important it was to me that my children witnessed me take a risk. I wanted them to see me welcome a challenge and invest the time into something that not only feeds me (literally and figuratively) but that I truly believe offers countless moments of transformation, beauty, and connection. Now that they’re in their early 20s, they can’t believe they missed shows like Lucy Dacus and Japanese Breakfast! They always ask what’s coming up next at 3S and never miss a YART Sale.  (Japanese Breakfast / Image credit: Adam Gerhold)

Other standout moments to me always circle around the energy and the audience. I love being in the center of the crowd during Project Upcycle, watching the incredible looks on the designers’ faces as their hard work is shown off by a local role model, or hearing a band address the crowd at a show to tell them how lucky they are to have a venue like this in their town. When the crowd screams back with appreciation — that kind of recognition makes all the hard work worth it. Bringing visitors and artists together is what makes this place so special. (2022 Project Upcycle / Image credit: Alyssa Duncan)

3S has just come to mean so much to me — more than I ever imagined. I’ve been able to shed a bit of the “imposter syndrome” that too many of us share and lean into my roles as artistic and executive director and curator. Of course, it helps when you have tremendous people around you. And I do! The best people — board, staff, and audiences! What a generous community.  

What about the challenges? Oh, they’re there! For nonprofits to thrive, they have to have the support of the community. It can be unpredictable and change with cause (pandemic!) or seemingly out of the blue. As a nonprofit that requires financial investment from businesses and individuals in the community, it can feel as if the ground under our feet is always shifting, never fully solid. It can feel like we are asking time and time again for our network to demonstrate their desire to support us. I just hope that the real message — that we want to keep bringing value and can only do so with your support — comes through. It’s the artist/audience connection that’s magic. It’s the curiosity, creativity, community. I know it’s our mission, but it really is those three magical words! 

How are we celebrating this anniversary? Well, I’d like to hear from the public. I’d like to know what your favorite 3S memories are. Click here to share your 3S memories! Each month, we are going to be highlighting different memories and perspectives on the 3S journey, from opening the day we opened our doors to full-time operations, to ten years later. We can’t wait to hear from you and celebrate together soon!

— Beth Falconer, Executive Director of 3S Artspace