The barn’s red facade and a bee hive will remain, but the Watershed Center for Ceramics Arts facility will receive a new look beginning this fall. Aug. 20, the center received the Edgecomb planning board’s conditional approval for a studio renovation project. Members voted 4-0 conditionally authorizing the center to demolish a barn which serves as the facility’s studio, and construct a new one. The new studio will be equipped for 30 artists who participate in the residency program for ceramic artists. The center also received approval for building a second floor to house as many as eight artists, but Executive Director Fran Rudoff told the planning board that probably wouldn’t happen until next year. 

The board made its decision after Rudoff submitted a Department of Environmental Protection permit-by-rule for stormwater management and drawings showing the new septic system’s location. The center receives full approval once officials provide septic system design plans. “This has been delayed waiting on the contractor to return from quarantine. We need to remove brush and trees and should have that information to you in a couple weeks,” Rudoff said. 

The project has been “in the works” for several years, according to Rudoff. Two years ago, the center bought and began renovating the “Old Cochran House” in Edgecomb. Earlier this year, the center received Newcastle planning board approval to construct an accessory building which is a three-car garage. Originally, the center planned to begin studio renovations in 2021. But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, officials decided to speed up their schedule. “We cancelled our entire summer program and decided to start the project early so we wouldn't lose two seasons,” she said. 

The new studio is equipped with heating and cooling systems which allow year round programing.

The board meets next at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.