Peacham Library Annual Meeting

“Restoring Vermont’s Painted Stage Curtains”

A hundred years ago, grand drapes and painted backdrops were primary artistic features in the cultural life of almost every village and town in northern New England. The “curtains” provided color and escapism in institutions that varied greatly in size and professional capacity. Vermont was the first state to pay attention to these reminders of a time when even the

smallest village halls held local variety shows or school performances, and many towns were visited by traveling players, opera companies, vaudeville singers, and itinerant musicians. Curtains Without Borders began conservation work in November, 1998, and by 2018, every Vermont painted curtain has been cleaned, mended, and judiciously in-painted. Michele Pagan served as the Textiles Conservator on the CWB team.