Updated news and information for the arts industry related to the coronavirus. Find federal, regional, and state resources, economic impact assessments, emergency relief efforts, and guidelines for re-opening. We’ll keep compiling the news as we get it and updating this page.
Cultural Alliance Local Survey
Live or work in Greater Danbury? Help us understand the impact of COVID-19 for the Arts Sector in Western Connecticut. It only takes 3 minutes!
Americans for the Arts National Survey
Collecting data about the impact of the spread in the Art sector across the country. Help make sure Western Connecticut is counted!
CARES Act
The Arts Action Fund updated information on the CARES Act Funds. Great for nonprofit arts org, a governmental arts agency, a commercial arts company, a self-employed individual artist.
covid-19 ALERTS
Since mid-March, 2020 we’re sending COVID-19 related information to the arts sector as we get it. Not receiving the alerts? Get on list! In the meantime, check out what you’ve missed down below in date order and in the following categories.
COVID 19 Funding Opportunities
COVID recovery related funding opportunities.
Cultural Alliance Calls for 1% for Arts
In April, the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut joined the Connecticut Arts Alliance call for 1% of America Recovery Plan funding be allocated for the Arts.
NEA grant supports Syrian-American artist’s Home Project at WCSU
Connecticut artist and architect Mohamad Hafez will bring his acclaimed skills in sculpture, assemblage and installation to Western Connecticut State University this fall as he shares his deeply personal exploration of the concepts of home and displacement with WCSU and Danbury students as part of “The Home Project,” sponsored by a $13,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
ACT OF CT’s INTO THE WOODS In – Concert
In collaboration with Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, this spellbinding concert production brings a new and unique vision to a modern classic and will feature a powerhouse cast of Broadway talent, past ACT of CT stars, and a few fantastic local celebrities.
US All Exhibition: Call for Art
The fabric of the United States is and was always made of many-colored threads. Lately these threads are frayed. There is outrage and fury emanating from people in response to inequality and injustice which have increasingly revived calls for civil rights, cultural sensitivity, and for protecting vulnerable groups from discrimination and hate crimes. Art can be a powerful catalyst, both for social protest and for promoting harmony and unity among us.
Make Music Ridgefield – June 21
Make Music Ridgefield is joining over 1000 cities worldwide in a global celebration of music inspired by France’s Fête de la Musique on Monday, June 21, 2021. There will also be limited pre-festival events held on Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music Ridgefield is open to anyone — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion. Performers can register on the website at www.makemusicday.org/ridgefield. All Make Music Ridgefield day events are free and open to the public.
Brookfield Film Festival Goes to the Oscars…virtually!
The Brookfield Arts Commission is pleased to partner with Shorts HD and Magnolia Films who for the 16th consecutive year are presenting the Oscar Nominated Short Films. All three categories – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – are offered.
Arts & Culture Roundtable
Arts & Culture Roundtable
with
U.S. Representative Joe Courtney
Implementing African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies in your High Schools
This course provides all Connecticut’s high school students an exciting opportunity to understand the scope of African American, Black, Puerto Rican and Latino contributions to United States history, society, economy, and culture.
Ridgefield Library – Seeks Full-time Adult Program Coordinator
The Ridgefield Library seeks a creative, energetic, focused self-starter with strong communication and technology skills to join our staff as the full-time Adult Program Coordinator. This position supports the successful operation of the Library by planning, organizing, promoting, and executing a wide variety of high quality, diverse and relevant programs and classes — generally more than 600 each year — for adults that reflect the Library’s mission to be “an essential partner and the place where people go to discover, question, learn and connect …
Art Call to Sculptors for Aquila’s Nest Vineyards
The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut has partnered with Aquila’s Vineyards of Newtown to present outdoor art show inspired by the world of birds. Artists from Connecticut and New York are asked to submit proposals for two exhibits, “Nesting,” which will run from June to September, and “Migration,” running from September to November.
Ridgefield could be the first town in CT with an official cultural district
The Connecticut Office of the Arts instituted the cultural district legislative statute in October 2019 to define “regional provider(s) of arts and cultural leadership for the support of state and municipal economies.” State officials defined a cultural district as a “specific area of a city or town identified by the municipality that has a number of cultural facilities, activities and assets — both for-profit and nonprofit,” located in a central, walkable area.
