Organizers of the Prescott Park Arts Festival have had a lot to celebrate in recent weeks. The end of summer marked the completion of the festival’s 33rd year in existence. Ben Anderson, recently appointed as the new executive director, is charged with the task of channeling the festival’s growth. And, most recently, the festival received a $100,000 gift from a former Portsmouth resident.

Before she passed away in August 2006, Leola Pierson used her $500,000 estate to establish a trust fund, which was to be dolled out in equal shares to five nonprofit organizations. “We were lucky enough to be included in that, and we’re certainly grateful for being selected. It will have a huge impact,” Anderson said.

Pierson, who was originally from Tenants Harbor, Maine, came to Portsmouth as a teenager and lived in her parent’s home on Dodge Avenue for many years. She attended Portsmouth Beauty School of Hair Design and worked as a beautician until she was in her 70s. In August of this year, the Salvation Army received a check for $40,000 from Pierson’s trust fund, which had previously given more than $60,000 to the Christian charity.

The board of directors for the Prescott Park Arts Festival became aware of the gift just prior to this year’s summer season. Over the course of several months, the board has been meeting to discuss how the funds will be allocated. According to Anderson, the money will be distributed in three ways. First, it will be used to eliminate debt that the festival has accrued in recent years. It will also be used to set up a contingency fund, which can cover the costs of any unforeseen financial difficulties the festival might experience. Pierson’s gift will also be used to establish an endowment. 

Running the festival is costly, and audience members don’t always recognize how much time, energy and money goes into each performance. Most people mistakenly think that the festival is a city-sponsored event, Anderson said, but, in reality, funding comes from a combination of sponsors and private donors. “Both play a huge role, and this is a perfect example of how important private donors are,” he said.

The festival’s biggest expenses are performer fees, sound and lighting production and other general logistic costs. Since festival events are typically free of charge, private donations are “absolutely essential,” Anderson said. The $100,000 will allow organizers to shift more focus toward the festival’s offerings, instead of dwelling on its finances.

There are a number of reasons why people choose to donate to the Prescott Park Arts Festival, according to Anderson. Most people want to support the “array of offerings that we do in the summertime, and the fact that it’s open to everybody. You very often find venues with high ticket prices, which limits who can see the events,” Anderson said. “I’m not entirely fluent in the whole history of the festival. I know there have been ups and downs in finances. Like any art organization, it’s tough to balance the budget. But this shows the difference an individual can make. This ensures the future of the organization.”

The other beneficiaries of Pierson’s estate include the Tenant’s Harbor Baptist Church in Maine, The Salvation Army, The Portsmouth Beauty School and the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Portsmouth.