Community Conversation Centers
On State of the Arts in Region

(July 7, 2009) Friends of the Community Foundation gathered in the colorful gallery of the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance in June for an eye-opening perspective on the state of the arts in the region. The presentation, led by Arts Alliance Executive Director Stephen Hard, was sponsored by the Community Foundation as part of its ongoing Community Conversation initiative, which takes donors into the community to see the fruits of their grantmaking.

“There’s so much more to the arts in this area than I realized or have ever taken advantage of,” said Lorraine Semnoski, a Community Foundation donor and retired Plainville music teacher who attended the talk. Hard’s entertaining presentation included an overview of the 45 organizations that are currently part of the Alliance, which serves as a unified voice for the arts, a catalyst for arts-related collaborations and an advocate for the arts as vital to the economic health and quality of life in the region.

“Sometimes people have the idea that giving money to the arts takes away from other segments of society and that’s just not true,” said Hard. “The truth is, art in its many forms reflects every aspect of our lives.”

Although the current economic downturn has reduced government and business funding for the arts, he said, individual contributions and interest in the arts is on the upswing. “Arts programming usually increases when times are tough because people are seeking a way to express what they are going through,” he explained, adding that overall, the availability of funding for the arts has decreased – “but it’s not dire yet.” 

After the presentation, Hard led the group on a walking tour of several local arts venues, starting with a little-publicized but interesting gallery on the second floor of City Hall, then on to the Artists Cooperative and the Art League of New Britain. Hard also pointed out some interesting architectural details to New Britain’s historic buildings – further evidence that art in its many forms is abundant in the city.

For more information on the region’s arts -- from music and theater to museums, dance and fine arts – visit the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance at www.newbritainarts.org.

Please mark your calendar for the next Community Conversation, which will be held September 30, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at CW Resources River Valley Products dry food packaging facility in New Britain. A frequent recipient of grants from the Community Foundation, CW Resources is a multifaceted, accredited organization empowering persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged through employment. For more information, contact Cheryl Farmer at 860-229-6018, ext. 305, or cfarmer@cfgnb.org.

In photo: Jim Williamson and Stephen Hard tour downtown New Britain with participants.