Mission
Celebration Barn creates opportunities for physical theater artists to hone their craft and share their work. We celebrate artists who channel the physical eloquence of the mime, the unruly energy of the clown, and the transformative power of the actor. By bringing art-making and community-building together, we serve those who are committed to reimagining the theater and the world beyond.
Values
Courage
Because it might not work
Courage is the will to do something that might not work. Thus, it is the root of creativity. As an institution that serves people who are committed to reimagining the theater and the world beyond, everyone at the Barn—from artists and staff to audiences and donors—is called to be courageous.
Justice
Because reckoning with the world is the only way to change it
Justice gives people the power to gather, to share, and to act in solidarity. Without a commitment to justice, art can serve only the ruling class. As a practice grounded in justice, however, art has the power not only to represent the world but to change it. The Barn strives both to support artists who center justice in their practice and to uphold its commitment to justice in every aspect of its operations.
In particular, the Barn, as a primarily white institution located on the lands of the Wabanaki Nations, has a responsibility to address the harm perpetuated by white supremacy and settler colonialism. To that end, the Barn is committed to putting its three imperatives of justice into practice:
- Fair Pay and Working Conditions
- Antiracism
- Decolonization
Soon, we will update this page with more information about how our programming and operations advance these imperatives.
Sustainability
Because what we pass on is who we are
To sustain something is to create the conditions in which it can endure and thrive. This is as true of a professional practice, such as acting, as it is of an ecosystem, such as the lakes and foothills of Western Maine. At the Barn, we strive to be good caretakers of the earth upon which we work and good neighbors with the more than human kin, including animals, plants, and fungi, that live alongside us. At the same time, our goal is to offer workshops that encourage artists to take care of themselves, to understand their role as arts workers, and to organize with their colleagues.
Joy
Because magic is real
Joy makes the work its own reward. At its best, the theater has always been a place where people can gather to savor the wonders of this world and to revel in the ecstasy of the imagination. The Barn aspires to carry on this tradition and to discover new ways to share in the joy of creation.