CAMDEN — The Camden Opera House, in collaboration with Camden Conference and Camden International Film Festival, has begun a fundraising campaign to Complete the Seats! Those seats are in the balcony and, unlike the cushy seats on the orchestra level of the Victorian-era auditorium, are wooden.

“We probably hold the one event each year that keeps folks in their seats all day – the Saturday sessions of our annual three-day conference,” said Camden Conference Board President Matt Storin, in a news release. “But anyone who has sat in the balcony knows that even for a couple of hours, those seats are not the most comfortable you can find.”

The opera house is working with the Maine State Prison Upholstery Shop to have 187 custom-made cushions made, using quality materials and hand craftsmanship. A portion of the campaign goal of $8,600 will benefit inmate families, as the prisoners receive some pay for their work.

Donations may be made via the Camden Opera House website, www.camdenoperahouse.com; scroll to the bottom of the “Upcoming Shows” list.

“On behalf of the Camden Conference, we want to thank Dave Morrison and the Camden Opera House for undertaking this campaign ... We think this will be a terrific improvement for the Opera House and one that will benefit many Midcoast residents for years to come,” said Storin.