Johnson Hall meets fundraising challenge, closes in on $5.5 million goal

BY JESSICA LOWELL, KENNEBEC JOURNAL

The Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center has met a fundraising challenge issued in July, drawing donations from individuals and corporations to raise $500,000.

In meeting the challenge gift from Peter and Sandra Prescott and Team EJP, the state’s oldest opera house is now just about $500,000 short of meeting its $5.5 million goal.

“The community really seems to be coming together,” Peter Prescott said. “It could always be better, but boy, it’s better than it used to be. It’s going to be a great thing; it’s going to bring in a lot of outsiders, which is going to help everybody.”

Michael Miclon, Johnson Hall’s executive artistic director, said the Prescott challenge gift means more to the performing arts center than just the money raised.