All across Connecticut, young artists are moving into rehabbed old buildings, setting up creative new businesses and bringing new life to their communities. I’d like to share two examples.
In Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, factories and warehouses have been converted into apartments and commercial space. A new CPTV series called “The Parkville Sessions” tells this story through the eyes of some of the musicians who now call Parkville home.
But it’s not just a city thing. In Litchfield, the former Bantam Switch Factory has been renovated and converted into commercial space for artists and artisans. Today, the occupants of the Bantam Arts Factory are helping draw younger people to this rural town. “Arts means business,” says Jocelyn Ayer of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments.
Click the links below and get a sample of the exciting things arts are making happen in our communities!
The Parkville Sessions, Bantam Arts Factory, Bantam revitalization
Discovering Amistad: A Community Event
Part I at The Playhouse on Sunday June 25th with Samuel Pieh, descendant of lead captive, Sengbe Pieh will discuss his family’s story, along with Captain Bill Pinkney who served as the first captain of the Amistad reproduction and Paula Mann Agnew, Executive Director of Discovering Amistad.
National Endowment for the Arts Grant Deadlines
National Endowment for the Arts Grants deadlines
New Female Artisan-Instructors Bring Blacksmithing and Woodturning Classes to Brookfield Craft Center
Female Artisan-Instructors Bring Blacksmithing and Woodturning Classes to Brookfield Craft Center
Arts & Humanities Webinar with US Senator Chris Murphy
Please join the Office of US Senator Chris Murphy for a webinar on the different federal and state funding options available! You will have the opportunity to hear directly from leadership at the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the Connecticut Humanities.
Make Music Day Connecticut
Communities across Connecticut will be participating in Make Music Day once again! Sign up to be part of the upcoming information and planning sessions. If you’ve participated in past Make Music Day events or if you are just hearing about Make Music Day for the first time and want to learn more, these sessions are for you. It’s a time for communities to come together to share ideas and plan for the big day.
Join One of the Public AEP6 Presentations
Connecticut’s arts and culture industry does more than enhance our quality of life. It is big business—a $954 million industry that supports local jobs, generates government revenue, and is a magnet for tourists. The State of Connecticut was part of a national study conducted by Americans for the Arts to measure this economic impact.
Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut Expands Events Calendar with Civic Lift!
Starting April 5th, 2024, the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut will be migrating to the Civic Lift Calendar Platform. This change marks an exciting and welcome shift towards a more dynamic and advantageous system for events management. Creative resources in Western Connecticut will expand their reach to promote events.
Teaching Artist Conference in Middletown March 24
Teaching Artist Conference in Middletown March 24
2023 Anticipated Impact of Elimination of the CT Cultural Fund on the Cultural Sector
Elimination of cultural fund CT
Spring Writing Classes at Village Center for the Arts
Second star to the right and straight on to VCA. Take an adventure led by Peter Pan, and write stories inspired along the way. Hear the voices of the Darlings, the pirates’ slang, and see the world through the eyes of the lost boys. This 10-week creative writing course meets on Fridays, March 8 – May 31 (no class April 9, April 5 and April 19), from 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Brookfield Craft Center Developing Accessibility Programs and Exhibitions
BCC incorporates a new program for students with autism and an upcoming exhibition showcasing disabled artists.
“Photographs and Improvisions” by Jim Stasiak
photographer Jim Stasiak ”Photographs and Improvisions”
The Art of Fashion
“The Art of Fashion” – 1990’s Illustrations by Kermit Adler
The Aldrich Contemporary Museum Presents Layo Bright: Dawn and Dusk
Layo Bright: glass and pottery