Subject: Organization Newsletter July 2022

News & Information for Arts & Cultural Organizations & Creative Businesses in Fairfield County

July 2022

OUR NEWS

Building Bridges of Understanding

The Norwalk Art Space, July 6, 7-8:30pm

Gourmet Cafe Opens for the Evening at 6pm


Expand your point of view and understanding of equity issues through a special storytelling experience presented by UBUNTU Storytellers, an ensemble of experienced black, brown, and biracial performers who tell stories that “open our collective hearts through empathic listening, to engage in respectful honest dialogue to be moved to change.” 


Organized by The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, in partnership with The Norwalk Art Space, we invite you to come and hear personal stories of lived experience...stories where you just might find yourself.


This is part of a series of conversations held by the Cultural Alliance under the banner of Collective Action for Equity (CAFE). Member artists, and those working for arts and cultural organizations, are coming together to acknowledge and respond to equity challenges. We are deepening our collective understanding of the complexity of equity issues, are taking action, and invite others to join.

ACE AWARDS BREAKFAST A GREAT SUCCESS

VIDEOS NOW AVAILABLE

Click above for complete video


Close to 200 participants gathered Wed. June 15 at the Shore and Country Club, Norwalk, to celebrate the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County’s 6th Daniel E Offutt III Arts & Cultural Empowerment (ACE) awardees. There was a wonderful mix of artists, cultural nonprofits, legislators, business leaders and many others gathered together for the same purpose - celebrating the awardees and the power of the arts and culture to sustain and uplift the community in good times and challenging times. See the videos above, the Program Book here, a short report here, and some reactions below:


“One of the most enjoyable events we have engaged in. To be a part of a group that took such joy and passion in what they do was marvelous.”


“What a spectacular success! Well done, and very much appreciated by all in attendance."


“Congratulations on such a wonderful, inspiring and great awards ceremony this morning, with exceptionally talented and inspirational award winners. And a high-powered roster of attendees! I was so delighted to have joined!"

COMING OUT OF COVID

New Date: Wed. July 20, 9:30-4pm

Stepping Stones Museum, Norwalk
TICKETS HERE


Come join us for an all-member convening to remember and share what we have experienced since March 2020, what new strengths and skills we have developed, and what's next for us all.


Picking up from the community-building we experienced during our weekly Community Calls during the peak of COVID, we are designing this meeting for as many members who can to come together to share their experiences of surviving the interrelated crises of 2020-21 - what was hardest, what helped, what new resources and partnerships emerged - and then to share how we are remaking ourselves: what new strengths, skills and capabilities have we developed? How are we now “showing up” differently in the world?

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE:

The Norwalk Art Space. 

Now a Podcast

If you missed our June edition of "Spotlight on Arts & Culture" - a live interview with Robin Panovka, Duvian Montoya and artist Lorena Sferlazza, of The Norwalk Art Space, then you can listen at your leisure by clicking through to the recorded version on Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/SpotTNAS

YOUR NEWS

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum named Amy Smith-Stewart as Chief Curator. Smith-Stewart will be the first woman to helm the non-collecting institution since its founding in Ridgefield in 1964. A curator at the Aldrich since 2013, she has established record of presenting the work of emerging artists. She replaces Richard Klein, who announced his departure in January after leading the museum for more than three decades.

City Lights Gallery and Bridgeport Art Trail received a $20,000 Grant from Fairfield County's Community Foundation for "In The Community Programs." City Lights/Bridgeport Art Trail team works in the community to provide youth with programs that enrich the learning experience and provide work and promotion for artists and creatives through American Rescue Plan funds disseminated by the city of Bridgeport. Image: Marvin Pittman, NBC producer at Central High School.

Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM) is pleased to announce the acquisition of 40 artworks from the Brandywine Workshop and Archives. Prints by Adger Cowans, Janet Taylor Pickett, Eduardo “Choco” Roca Salazar, and Larry Walker are among those in the new “satellite collection” at FUAM. Founded in Philadelphia in 1972 by artist Allan Edmunds, the Brandywine Workshop and Archives is a nonprofit cultural institution celebrated for its engagement with the local community and its educational programming. Image: Rodney Ewing, My Country Needs Me, 1996, offset lithograph. Edition: 80. Published by Brandywine Workshop and Archive.

KEYS is thrilled to announce that Karen Cobham has become their next Executive Director. Ms. Cobham will guide KEYS in their mission to provide free music lessons and performance opportunities to under-resourced students of Bridgeport. Rob Silvan, who founded KEYS in 2004 and is the current Executive Director, will become the Artistic Director. Cobham has spent most of her working career with nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she held the title of Director of Development at Covenant House Pennsylvania.

OTHER NEWS

DEMYSTIFYING DATA COLLECTION:

HOW TO ASK FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFO

JULY 14 | 12PM | ZOOM


Join Susie Wilkening of Wilkening Consulting, in partnership with CT Humanities and the CT League of History Organizations for a virtual info session to help you navigate best practices with data collection. The session is free to all to register.

NOMINATE YOUR "ARTS HERO"!


The Connecticut Arts Hero Awards honor and celebrate Connecticut residents who are doing inspiring things in, for or through the arts in Connecticut. Since 2016, the Connecticut Arts Hero Awards have introduced us to an array of remarkable individuals engaged in or supporting the arts - some publicly and some behind the scenes.  If you know a special someone, like our Lu, who has contributed significantly to the arts in Connecticut, please take a moment to nominate this individual. Deadline: September 21

NEW & IMPROVED ARTS + SOCIAL IMPACT EXPLORER


Following 18 months of community and field engagement, Americans for the Arts has launched a new version of the Arts + Social Impact Explorer launched with an array of new features that improve the user experience and deepen the impact of the tool. This free online resource is packed with examples, data points, and links to research papers illustrating the impact of arts and culture in 30 aspects of community life, from public health and transportation to safety, community cohesion, and more.

2021 PROFILE OF ARTS INCUBATORS


Americans for the Arts, in partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Arts Incubator Research Lab and with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts' Research Labs initiative, fielded the 2021 Profile of Arts Incubators during September and October 2021. The survey collected information about the participating art incubators' programs, financials, and operating procedures. It also focused on the program delivery implications for arts incubators in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as issues of access and equity. Explore an interactive map of arts incubators, a summary of the aggregate national findings, data tables, infographics, and other resources at this 2021 Profile of Arts Incubators webpage.

FUNDING

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SPREAD THE WORD!

Did you know that, in addition to this monthly Organization Newsletter, we have a monthly Artist Newsletter and a weekly E-Buzz event listing? Feel free to subscribe to any or all of our publications and share a sample with a friend or peer. Please help us expand our reach by sharing and subscribing here:

BECOME A MEMBER

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit membership service organization that supports its members through marketing, capacity building, professional development, networking, and advocacy services. This newsletter is sent to all who request it, but we ask that, if you are not a member, you explore membership benefits and consider joining.

THANK YOU

SPONSORS & MEDIA PARTNERS

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a 501(c)(3) cultural nonprofit membership organization. We are grateful to our members and our donors whose support enables us to do our work. In particular, we are grateful for support from:

FOLLOW US:


Powered by:
GetResponse