PUTNEY -- Keith Marks is leaving Next Stage Arts for the next phase of his professional journey but he's staying in town and plans to remain involved with the organization.

Starting Jan. 6, the Next Stage Arts executive director will serve in the same role at The Colonial Theatre in Keene, N.H. Next Stage will have former executive director Maria Basescu serve as interim executive director while the board conducts a search for a new director.

"It's an exciting time because Next Stage is in a strong position: programming is set through April, and planning for the upcoming Bandwagon Summer Series is already underway," Marks said. "The organization will continue along the path we've charted. While I won't be the executive director, I will continue living in Putney and remain invested in Next Stage's success as a vital part of the region's cultural ecosystem."

Marks said Next Stage provided him with "the opportunity to move to the region, lead an established theater, and grow tremendously as a leader." Over his past five years at Next Stage, he also served as a board member of Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies and the Governor's Institutes of Vermont, and co-president of New England Presenters.

"These years have been an incredible learning experience, and we've grown Next Stage by every metric," he said. "The opportunity at The Colonial offers me the chance to grow professionally and personally. It's the right time for me to transition, and I'm leaving Next Stage in the best shape I could have imagined. The Colonial will give me the opportunity to learn and lead on a new level."

Moving from a theater with 200 seats to one with 900 seats "allows for a whole new level of programming, including Broadway-caliber productions and larger artists," Marks said. He welcomes a new challenge in needing to cultivate a new network of presenters, agents and artists.

Also, The Colonial has The Showroom, which Marks described as "a more intimate venue" with 120 seats or room for 200 people as standing room. The Showroom was built during the pandemic.

Marks said his relationships from Next Stage will help support programming for The Showroom. He's also excited to get to know Keene, which he said has been "thriving with a growing nightlife and shopping scene."

"While it's just 25 minutes from Brattleboro, Keene has its own unique culture, and I'm eager to contribute to its vibrant community," he said.

Marks said he's "proud of so much" at Next Stage, including "the many ways we've deepened our mission and expanded our impact on the community."

"In response to the challenges of COVID-19, we launched the Bandwagon Summer Series, determined to fulfill our mission of bringing people together even when traditional gatherings weren't possible," he said. "The response was overwhelming, and what started as a necessity has become a crown jewel of Next Stage's programming -- a cherished series that brings live performance to unique outdoor settings."

During the pandemic, Next Stage also invested in live streaming equipment. Marks said the pivot allowed audiences to enjoy performances from the safety of their homes and created an archive of performances that contribute to the venue's legacy.

Expanding access has been a central focus at Next Stage, Marks said.

"By partnering with local social service organizations, we've been able to provide cultural and community experiences to individuals who might not otherwise have access," he said. "Whether through ticket subsidies or transportation initiatives, these efforts ensure that Next Stage remains a place for everyone."

Collaboration has been another cornerstone of Next Stage's efforts, Marks said. In 2023, the group counted 67 different organizations and institutions it partnered with.

"These relationships have been central to our success, and looking ahead, collaboration will be formally baked into our next strategic plan as a key pillar of our identity," Marks said.

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One particularly meaningful initiative for Marks was Arts Unite Windham County, a COVID-era program produced in partnership with Brattleboro Community Television and seven venues. Shows were live-streamed telethon-style to raise funds for the Windham County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Root Social Justice Center following the murder of George Floyd.

Marks said Arts Unite Windham County was his "first major piece of programming during the pandemic, and it demonstrated the power of the arts to galvanize the community in moments of urgency."

"All of this has contributed to Next Stage's growing reputation as a regional leader in arts and culture," he said. "I'll never forget attending the Association of Performing Arts Professionals conference in New York City and hearing from artists and agents who already knew of Next Stage. It was a moment of realization that our efforts had truly put Next Stage on the map."

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Next Stage Arts was named the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce's Member of the Year. Marks joined the organization "just as the pandemic was gearing up" and immersed "himself in the organization's finances," said Kate O'Connor, chamber board member and former chamber executive director, said at the awards ceremony in September.

"Keith's love of people, his ability to cultivate strong relationships through networking and his affiliations with other organizations ... all contributed to his ability to get the best performers," O'Connor said.

Before moving his family to Putney for the Next Stage job, Marks ran a non-profit organization in Jacksonville, Fla. That experience led him to a National Arts Strategies program in Philadelphia, where he met Sharon Fantl. Fanti had worked at The Redfern Arts Center in Keene, the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center, and eventually at Next Stage as its development director.

During a visit to Brattleboro in August 2019, Marks was struck by the beauty of the region and its rich arts scene.

"I mentioned to Sharon that I'd love to live here, and a month later, she told me about the open role at Next Stage," he said. "I applied, and the rest is history."

Marks said his family is "definitely staying in Putney."

"I turned down roles with institutions in Boston, New York, and Manchester, Vt., because my wife and I decided this region is the perfect place to raise our family," he said. "The Colonial role threads the needle of professional growth while maintaining our family's balance and connection to this incredible community."

As Marks departs from Next Stage, he encourages community members to support their local venues.

"For five years, I've championed this region as having a truly unique value proposition: a dynamic blend of breathtaking natural beauty and an arts ecosystem that rivals what you'd find in much larger, urban areas," he said. "It's remarkable how much cultural richness exists here -- circus schools, jazz centers, theaters, galleries, world-class music venues, and more -- all contributing to an unparalleled quality of life in a rural setting."

But "the hard truth," he said, is that "most of these organizations are operating on a razor's edge. They're making magic happen with budgets that often barely cover the basics, let alone allow for the growth and innovation we'd like to see. It's not sustainable. If we want to continue boasting about this extraordinary ecosystem, we need to actively support it -- not just in spirit, but financially and through participation."

Marks called every concert attended, ticket bought, donation contributed "an investment in the vibrancy of this community." If everyone stepped up, he said, "We could move from survival mode to thriving. We could ensure that future generations have the same access to the creativity and inspiration that define our region."

"If we value living in a place where the arts are part of the very fabric of life, we need to show up," Marks said. "Share the responsibility of ensuring this incredible ecosystem not only survives but flourishes. These organizations can't thrive without us, and we can't thrive without them."