HVCA Receives $32,500 Grant From CT Commission On Culture & Tourism

DANBURY — Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance (HVCA) has been awarded $32,500 from The CT Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCT) and through the Local Arts Agency (LAA) Program to support its efforts to promote the arts, history, and cultural resources within the region.

Despite state budget challenges, HVCA has received strong support from CCT.

The LAA grant is open to service-oriented arts organizations throughout Connecticut.

HVCA is among twenty arts service organizations and among nine of the top-tier organizations that are regionally based, according to CCT. HVCA ranked fourth out of the nine last year for providing cultural leadership to the region. HVCA is a capacity building organization and the programs offered are considered a “new model” in the arts industry and on the cutting edge in terms of community development because its service driven. 

“We are proud and exceedingly grateful to receive this award from the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism,” says Lisa Scails, executive director of HVCA. “Support from the state renews our partnership, helps to leverage additional resources, and in no small way, enables HVCA to meet its goals.

“Funding for the arts is scarce.  Even in a fair economy, the arts are relegated as low priority,” she continued. “This is more evident with an economy that struggles to stabilize, and even worse for arts organizations, like HVCA that do not primarily present or produce events. We continue to build relationships and educate about this work.”

The state funding will enable HVCA to provide services such as professional development, marketing and promotion initiatives, opportunities to build stronger networks, and coordinate services among industry professionals and the community at large.

HVCA will continue to seek ways to partner with municipalities, business leaders, and nonprofits to integrate the arts more in order to meet objectives across the board. HVCA services are primarily geared to the 400-plus cultural resources throughout its ten-town region of Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, New Milford, Redding, Ridgefield, and Sherman, and for the benefit of the larger community.

“HVCA has a unique mission in encouraging economic development through arts and culture,” said HVCA Board President Lew Wallace. “The HVCA board is appreciative of the state’s recognition of our success in providing job-creating services to artisans and art, history and cultural organizations in western Connecticut.  We continue to expand and grow our services with the support of our members, local sponsors, municipal leaders and the state.”

For additional information about the association as well as upcoming events and programs, visit www.HVCulturalArts.org.