Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House announced the successful completion of its Rise Up! campaign, officially retiring its $3M debt. The campaign began in 2021, and, with the help of the Reinhart Foundation, the opera house was able to reduce the debt to under $1M. This year, in a full-circle moment, the Reinhart Foundation generously covered the remainder of the campaign.
Built in 1855, Hudson Hall began as the Hudson’s City Hall. Over the years, the building fell into disrepair. With community support, the City Hall was saved in 1992 and converted into the arts nonprofit, Hudson Opera House. The building underwent an impressive $9.5M renovation, completed in 2017, that made it fully ADA accessible. It was this project that led the venue to take out the $3M loan.
With the campaign finished, the venue will no longer have to pay costly interest on the loan. Regarding this development, Executive Director Adam Weinert says, “That means more of our resources can go toward the work we’re here to do: bringing artists and audiences together, supporting young people, and making Hudson Hall a place where the whole community feels welcome.” The financial milestone comes as Hudson Hall approaches the tenth anniversary of its reopening.
“Hudson Hall exists today because people in this community believed this building was worth saving,” said Paul Barrett, President of Hudson Hall’s Board of Directors. “That commitment has carried us through more than three decades of restoration, reopening, and rebuilding. The Rise Up! campaign is another example of what people can accomplish together, and we’re enormously grateful to everyone who contributed, especially the Reinhart Foundation for helping us reach this milestone.”
With their debt behind them, Hudson Hall looks forward to an exciting future with more community resources. Last week, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) announced awarding Hudson Hall $45,000 to seed its first-ever Reserve Fund. This important first step towards financial resiliency will help the organization navigate any unexpected challenges and safeguard its programs and its historic building. The award is made possible by NYSCA with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Since its reopening nearly a decade ago, Hudson Hall has grown into a year-round destination for the performing arts and a vital community gathering place that serves approximately 40,000 people each year. Its acclaimed Hudson Jazz Festival and Handel on the Hudson opera series bring internationally recognized talent to the region. Additionally, their free arts education, community partnerships, and accessible programming for all ages draw in large crowds.
Hudson Hall will celebrate the culmination of the Rise Up! campaign with a private reception for campaign supporters on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM, following a public recital by countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen at 3 PM. The reception will include remarks recognizing the donors and community members who made this milestone possible.
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