Mission
Loos Center for the Arts at The Woodstock Academy is dedicated to cultivating inspiration, education, and engagement through the arts.
History
Originally built in 1967 on the campus of Annhurst College, the venue was to bring arts to the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut -- an area that otherwise was left without ease of access. Through the years, the facility slowly became less public-focused; used for a period of time as a training facility and then later by a different independent school as their campus meeting space. In 2017, the venue was purchased by The Woodstock Academy with a revitalized vision for what the facility could present. As a result, Center for the Arts was created to fulfill the vision of years past; giving back to the local community by bringing accessible visual and performing arts to the area.
In May of 2019, a commitment of historic level by Mrs. Joan Loos was given to support The Woodstock Academy's vision. The gift, committed in honor of her late husband, August "Gus" Loos, was a way to further honor her husband and their company while securing arts opportunities for thousands of students and community members for years to come. This resulted in the renaming of the fine arts facility to Loos Center for the Arts.
The gift was split for two purposes. First, it allowed Loos Center for the Arts to update the infrastructure within the facility; replacing the rigging, lighting, sound systems, and more. Second, it established a restricted endowment to contribute directly to programming and capital needs within the facility.
We invite you to join us in the 1,016-seat theater, 1,000 sq. foot art gallery, atrium, or 72-seat lecture hall during future events or give to support our mission.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Loos Center for the Arts resides on the historic homelands of the Nipmuc; and that what is now called Connecticut encompasses the homelands of the Wappinger, Schaghticoke, Golden Hill Paugussett, Mohegan, Mashantucket Pequot, Eastern Pequot, Nipmuc, Quinnipiac, Niantic, and Lenape, as well as other Indigenous Peoples. We honor, respect, and appreciate the relationship that exists among these communities, nations, lands, and waterways, and aspire to uphold our responsibilities according to their example of stewardship.
