Almanack Pond Farm Sold To Almanack Arts Colony Leaders And Cisco Brewers Founders

Almanack Pond Farm, a seven-acre property in Polpis owned by the Johnson family for decades, has been sold to the leaders of the Almanack Arts Colony and the founders of Cisco Brewers for $4.75 million.

The sale, which closed in late October, was announced by the Almanack Arts Colony this week. The non-profit, which has operated at the 25 Almanack Pond Road property for the past 10 years, "invites emerging artists doing groundbreaking work to come and live on the farm and escape the pressures of the commercial world at the precise point in their career when they can benefit most from the solitude, the focused study, and the mentorship that the colony provides."

The buyer of the property, Almanac Pond Farm LLC, is registered to Callie Kever, the co-founder and longtime executive director of the Almanack Arts Colony, along with her husband Caleb Cressman, and Wendy Hudson, one of the founders of Cisco Brewers.

"We've all seen what can happen to an old house like that - a beautiful barn on seven acres could quickly become another compound used only a handful of times a year," Kever told the Current. "I think we have enough of those. The island needs the artists and the creatives to have a space. Hopefully, we can continue to provide that. Between all of our other ventures, collectively, we are in pretty deep on the music scene here and musicians need time and space to cultivate new work, as do all artists."

The property has been used by both the Almanack Arts Colony (since 2014) and the Almanack Screenwriters (since 2004), both of which were founded by John Johnson, a media entrepreneur and research scientist who co-founded Buzzfeed and Harmony Labs. Johnson is the great-grandson of Johnson & Johnson founder Robert Wood Johnson and the son of late artist John Seward Johnson.

"Earlier this year, after much careful consideration, John and Susan Johnson realized that the time had come to let Almanack go," Kever wrote in her announcement of the sale. "Still, they wanted to see it continue to be a place of respite for artists and creators, ideally in the hands of those of us who have stewarded it over the past decade. So, with that in mind, Caleb and I, along with the help of Wendy and Randy Hudson, and Laura Hussey, secured a win-win outcome for everyone involved, and we purchased the property off-market in late October! This was a group effort; everyone involved should be proud of their commitment to preservation and the arts. As you can imagine, there were many possible outcomes, and not all secured the future of Almanack Arts Colony."

In conjunction with the sale of the farm property, the non-profit also announced a leadership change. Kever has stepped down as executive director, and Kelly Zutrau was named the organization's new program director. Zutrau is a member of the indie pop group Wet, from Brooklyn, New York, that has played gigs on Nantucket in the past.

“Since arriving at Almanack for the first time as a songwriter in 2018, I have been lucky enough to return each year in one capacity or another," Zutrau said. "It has been a joy to witness the effect that this place has had on so many, and I continue to be inspired by the organization's unwavering support for the arts at a time when it is needed most. I’ve seen firsthand the real value that it brings to individuals and to the community at large. I’m thrilled to return this year as program director, and I look forward to all the exciting possibilities ahead.“

Kever laid out three goals for the Almanack Arts Colony's future following the acquisition of the property:

1. "Keep the nonprofit on the property and expand programming organically."
   
2. "Continue to provide respite for emerging and established artists and organizations, who are the thought leaders, stakeholders, and creatives now and for future generations."
3. "Through strategic partnerships, continue to expand awareness about Nantucket's precious resources and infinite beauty, emphasizing Nantucket's rich history as an inspiration for artists."

Kever told the Current that the possibility of buying the property and the partnership with Wendy and Randy Hudson was first contemplated last winter during a trip to Central America.

"Last winter, while we were in Costa Rica and were discussing what a possible change of ownership could look like with John and Susan Johnson, the first thought was to find like-minded islanders interested in collaborating with us on the next iteration of 25 Almanack Pond Road," she said. "Wendy and Randy quickly came to mind. They have been very supportive over the years of the Songwriters Colony, especially of BBQ, Bocce, & Bluegrass - Randy is either playing, bartending, or winning that event! They stuck with us throughout the process of vetting different ideas for the property, but ultimately, they wanted what Caleb and I wanted - to see the property remain essentially the same as it's been for the last decade. That's to say, supporting artists, informal listening nights on the lawn with friends, some more fruit trees maybe, and plenty of bocce ball! So, when it became clear that John and Susan would sell the property outright rather than stay involved, which I think would be challenging since they have so much going on in Costa Rica, we banded together with Wendy and Randy and made some calls. With their support and the support of others, we made an offer before it was set to be listed."

The property at 25 Almanack Pond Road, which features a barn, pond, and apple trees, was previously on the market in 2023 for $2.9 million.

Over the past year, the Almanack Arts Colony has welcomed over 40 artists to the farm property, including songwriters, musicians, playwrights, poets, directors, visual artists, and producers.

Kever, who intends to serve a four-year term on the Almanack Arts Colony's board, emphasized in the announcement that there will be a "clear delineation" between the new ownership group of the property and the non-profit leadership. She and Cressman will serve as creative advisors and mentors moving forward.