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| | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit membership service organization that supports its members through unified marketing, capacity building, professional development, 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. See member benefits here. Join here.. |
| All links in green connect to information on our website See previous issues of Artists Newsletter here. |
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COVID-19 RESOURCES POSTED
The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County has assembled a list of COVID-19 resources for artists and cultural organizations to respond to the COVID-19 situation. Our list includes Funding Opportunities, Emergency Grants, Relief Funds, Freelance Artist Resources, Online Opportunities, and more. If you know of useful resources not listed please email david@culturalalliancefc.org |
| | CALL FOR DIGITAL CREATIVITY!
In response to the blanket cancellations and closures of venues due to the COVID-19 crisis, we are putting out a call to all member artists and venues to be as creative as you can - and to let us know by posting online to FCBuzz-Events any digital programming you are coming up with. Let's keep the E-Buzz alive and FCBuzzEvents well populated with your new digital events. Please post your digital exhibitions, webinars, distance learning, Facebook-Live, poetry readings, interactive events and more, directly onto FCBuzzEvents. Use the video link box in "Events Info." And keep your thinking cap on as we may shortly be announcing a digital innovation contest! |
| | SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW "COLORFUL BRIDGEPORT" & PUBLIC ART" NOW AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD |
| If you missed the live broadcast of the March edition of our monthly SPOTLIGHT show, you can hear it on our SPOTLIGHT podcast on Soundcloud. Hear Jane Dávila, Managing Director of the Nest Arts Factory, Suzanne Kachmar, Executive Director of the Bridgeport Art Trail and City Lights Gallery and Lauren Coakley Vincent, President and CEO of Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District discuss the new “Colorful Bridgeport” campaign to bring color and life to downtown Bridgeport through the arts, more public art and public art activities. There’s a real push to bring the arts into the streets, and into storefronts. Hear the genesis of this campaign, and what’s in store for Bridgeport from a team of dedicated artists, nonprofits and entrepreneurs.
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| | ACE AWARDS: STILL TIME TO NOMINATE |
| There is still time to nominate your most-admired Artist, Citizen, Business, Educator, and Nonprofit for the Cultural Alliance's 2020 Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) Awards. You can make as many nominations as you like in all five categories. The awards are still scheduled to take place Tues. June 9, 2020, at The Shore and Country Club, Norwalk. To nominate somebody, you will need to give your contact information and that for the nominee, and a statement of up to 150 words giving the reason for the nomination. Click here to make your nominations.
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| | ❦ – Latest List by Town of Organization and Creative Business Members: here
❦ – Latest List by Town of Artist Members: here |
| | | | | Daniel Wade Barrett, Nancy Breakstone, Michael brennecke, Janine Brown, Miggs Burroughs, Heidi Lewis Coleman, Susan Fehlinger, Fruma Markowitz, Erin Nazzaro, Julie O’Connor, Don Perley, Kelly Rossetti, Lisa Silberman, Pam Stoddart and Nancy C. Woodward were included among those selected by Adrienne Ruger Conzelman, founder and director of Fairfield's ARC Fine Art, for the Ridgefield Guild of Artists 10th Annual Juried Member Show. The exhibition, due to open in March, has been delayed until further notice. |
| | Daniel Wade Barrett, Lisa Berger, Bevi Bullwinkel, Trace Burroughs, Heidi Lewis Coleman, Linda Colletta, Joseph Dermody, Eugenie Diserio, Heide Follin, Joyce Grasso, Jennifer Moné Hill, Yuko Ike, Susan Leggitt, Barbara Loss, Jim Malloy, Julie O’Connor, Jay Petrow, Diane Pollack, Barbara Ringer, Lisa Seidenberg, Debbie Smith, Joan Wheeler all have work in the Carriage Barn Art Center's SPECTRUM: Visions 2020 annual exhibit. There will be no opening reception, but the Carriage Barn is currently planning on opening the show Sat. April 4. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eugenie Diserio's painting, Babel II, (mixed media, 40 x 40") is included in SPECTRUM: Visions 2020 at New Canaan's Carriage Barn Arts Center. With the theme of the show "looking ahead and beyond," Eugenie's inspiration for Babel II was a fascination with the calligraphy of non-western languages. "Despite different ways of communicating, we are interconnected to all life on this planet and energetically one in our future world."
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| | - Rebeca Fuchs has two paintings, including Why We Dream in the Home exhibition at the Rowayton Arts Center. The theme of Home is where we physically dwell, but home is also an idea; a state of mind. The gallery is closed through at least April 3, but the exhibition has been extended through April 18. However you can see the show in a 2.5 minute video here and a shorter version here on Twitter.
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| | | | - Sooo-z Mastropietro has taken a departure from her normal work to create a video submission for Heavy Metal Knitting art show in Finland. Heavy Metal meets knitting: "A beautiful double bass, LadyThunder, is struck with jealousy and sadness when she realizes she is cold for she has no sweater upon her shoulders. Her mistress, Knitiot Savant, adorned in a gray wool spiked mace-like v-neck, feverishly works her nimble fingers to cloak her musical confidant in a gorgeous crimson Alpaca cabled cardigan."
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| | - Jim Malloy has three paintings -- California Hotel, The Eyes and Like Jagger -- on view at Ridgefield's RPAC Gallery, all of which were inspired by classical rock songs, to coincide with the theme of guest artist Frankie Vinci's work. A pair of unusual abstract acrylic paintings, titled Yes Man’s Land and No Man’s Land will be shown in the Kent Art Association Member Show in Kent CT. These works were created exclusively with a glue syringe used by woodworkers. Loft Artists Association is having its annual Sketchbook Project and Exhibit which will include Jim's painted booklets Soul Cage #1 and Soul Cage #2. The Barn Gallery in New Fairfield is showing two new original works by Jim titled Jazz Riff #1 and Jazz Riff #2. Limited edition, signed prints of the fanciful and fun collection of abstract artwork called Popsicle People are on display as well and along with Torn, Torch Song and Imagine.
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| | | | - Amy Oestreicher's new book, "Creativity and Gratitude: Exercises and Inspiration for a Year of Art, Hope, and Healing," is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Sometimes life takes a detour. No matter how much we plan, we encounter bumps in the road that can be frustrating, confusing, and unpredictable. Whether it’s our health, stress at work or home, or current events, we all contend with challenging moments and the occasional curveball. The book provides fifty-two prompts—one for every week of the year—along with the tools you need to release your creative energy, and unleash the artist within.
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| | - Alissa Siegal has Red Shoes with Birds, (charcoal and oil on linen, 26"x35") on the Paddle8 & The New York Academy of Art online sale and exhibit curated by Beth Redmond. Available through June 15.
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| | - Susan Tabachnick is having a solo show, entitled Artifacts, that was planned to open at DaSilva Gallery, New Haven, March 14 through April 4. See this example of one of her Untitled works in the show.
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| | | | | | CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT INCLUDES RELIEF FOR ARTISTS
Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” a bill that "has strong implications for the artist residency network," reported the Alliance of Artists Communities (AAC). The relief package provides sick leave, unemployment benefits, free coronavirus testing, and food and medical aid to people impacted by the pandemic. The AAC notes that the bill includes: ● mandated emergency paid leave for employees for qualified sick leave, family and medical leave, and to care for a child whose school has closed; ● refundable payroll tax credits for required emergency paid leave provided by employers with fewer than 500 employees (nonprofits are eligible for relief); ● emergency funding to states for unemployment compensation; ● refundable individual tax credits for leave taken by self-employed workers for qualified sick leave, caring for a family member, or caring for a child whose school has closed; and additional provisions related to nutrition assistance and cost-free COVID testing provisions for the uninsured. Advocacy around this relief package is helpful to our communities, and nonprofits will be eligible for relief in some capacity.
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HOW FANS CAN SUPPORT ARTISTS AND MUSIC INDUSTRY WORKERS DURING THE OUTBREAK
This NPR story recommends ways that the rest of us can support musicians cut off from payments from gigs they depend on. These include: ● Donate directly to artists and music-industry workers via Venmo, PayPal, Cash App or Patreon; ● Buy directly from artists' e-commerce channels — sites like Bandcamp, Gumroad and Shopify. ● Tune in and donate to artists' livestreams on channels like Twitch, as well as Facebook; and ● Donate to state- and national-level emergency funds for musicians and their teams, as noted below.
Also see this NPR story: Resources For Music Businesses And Industry Workers In Need Amidst The Pandemic. These include: MusiCares, a nonprofit organization operated by The Recording Academy, that established a $2 million COVID-19 relief fund this week; Sweet Relief opened up a dedicated COVID-19 fund for music-industry workers who are medically affected by the coronavirus. Billboard has a detailed Resource Guide for Music Professionals. In addition, the Arts Administrators of Color Network (AAC) has launched the Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund, which will give $200 grants to affected artists and artist administrators who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). |
| | AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS MUNICIPAL-ARTIST PARTNERSHIP GUIDE RELEASED
Animating Democracy and A Blade of Grass announce the Municipal-Artist Partnership Guide (MAP), a practical digital resource to help artists, arts agency leaders, and municipal agency staff, navigate partnerships to achieve positive and powerful artistic and community results. Features include partnership models, principles and best practices for working together, profiles of exemplary programs, tools, and sample documents. Supported by NEA/Our Town and the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.
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| | BRIDGEPORT PORTRAIT PROJECT BRINGS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER
The Bridgeport Portrait Project, displayed at the University of Bridgeport's Schelfhaudt Gallery (closed until further notice), features documentary style photography and storytelling project by Jay Misencik and Geralene Valentine. These snapshots in time capturing the people who represent the diverse character of the city. A retired NBA player, a radio host, the director of the Beardsley Zoo, a city council member and more...some of which have passed away and have their stories memorialized in their portraits. Read More...
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| | 2,500 MUSEUMS OFFER VIRTUAL VISITS
COVID-19 virus has brought the world to a halt, shuttering all art and cultural institutions in affected countries, and putting millions worldwide in quarantine, self-imposed or not. Meanwhile, if you’re feeling hungry for art while you’re stranded at home, you might be pleased to know that 2,500 world-class museums and galleries are now offering virtual tours and online collections at Google’s Arts & Culture. ALSO: on social media explore results from #Museum@Home!
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| | MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES OFFER FREE DOWNLOADABLE BOOKS TO COLOR IN
Hyperallergic brings together a selection of downloadable coloring books under the hashtag #colorourcollections and you can download specially prepared selections such as from the Getty Museum, NY Botanical Garden, the Smithsonian, and many more. Enjoy!
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| | | | GREATER CONCORD CHAMBER ART ON MAIN MARCH 31
The City of Concord, NH and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce invite professional sculptors to submit entries for Art on Main, a public art exhibit in the city’s historic downtown. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2020. Artists will be notified of their acceptance into the show by April 30, 2020, and selected artists will receive a $500 stipend. Installation dates are May 20 – June 8, 2020. Exhibition dates run from June of 2020 to May of 2021.
Concord’s Third Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition is open to professional sculptors 18 years or older. Artists may submit up to two works for consideration; each must be the property of the artist. Art on Main is a year-round, outdoor, open-air exhibit and all accepted entries must be properly secured upon installation for the safety of visitors and the artwork itself. Application details here. |
| | RENE SOTO GALLERY SMALL IS THE NEW BIG DEADLINE EXTENDED
APRIL 3The Rene Soto Gallery has announced it has extended the deadline for submission to Small is the New Big until April 3. The show is now scheduled to open with a reception, April 25, and be on view through May 30. Original art is welcome in any two-dimensional or three-dimensional medium, no larger than 14" x 16" including frame, created in the last two years and not exhibited previously at Rene Soto Gallery, including: painting, fiber art, mixed-media, photography, drawing, printmaking, pastels, and 3D bas-relief artwork created to be hung on a wall is eligible. Sculpture is accepted only if the artist supplies their own stand or the work is free standing. David Green, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, who has a history of bringing artists together with their public, will jury the show. LEARN MORE |
| | KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART CLADOGRAM APRIL 3 The Katonah Museum of Art invites submissions for Cladogram: KMA International Juried Biennial, June 28 to Oct. 4, 2020, juried by Yasmeen Siddiqui. The KMA presents exhibitions that explore ideas about art, culture, and society – past and present – through innovative exhibition and education programs. KMA invites submissions from visual artists, sound artists, book artists, craftbased artists, poets and authors interested in the idea and form of the archive. The goal is to present a broad range of contemporary work that addresses the ways historical objects and ideas are organized and categorized. REGISTER HERE. |
| | MARITIME GARAGE GALLERY DEFACEMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED: APRIL 30
The City of Norwalk Parking Authority’s Maritime Garage Gallery is inviting submissions of art from artists 18 and over for its next exhibit titled “DeFACEment: Through Artistic Eyes”. Dates for the opening reception, and the run of the show, have still to be determined, given the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition will be curated by Robert Abriola, the Maritime Garage Gallery's newly appointed curator and local Norwalk artist. The exhibit will feature expressive personality and portraiture art that depicts unique perspectives through the artists’ eyes. Artists are asked to search beyond the ordinary to develop compelling visuals, including both animate and inanimate forms that evoke thought, passion, as well as hardship, conflict, and spiritual freedom. Clever uses of medium, with the exception of pedestal sculpture, are welcome. A jury will determine the best among the entries to receive Best In Show as well as First and Second Runners Up. For guidelines and submissions, click here. Questions can be submitted here. Deadline: April 30, 2020. |
| | YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION
JUNE 5The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will launch its seventh annual Young Writers’ Competition open to all third-eighth grade students in the Tri-state area. Students must identify these unfamiliar objects from LMMM’s permanent collection by providing detailed descriptions and historical research or by writing a fictional story on some of the objects correctly identified. Winners will be chosen based on 1) correct identification, research and most well-written description of the objects; or 2) most well-written, fictional story based on the correct identification and research on the objects. All descriptions must be in keeping with the historical period that the objects belong to. Competition winners and their families will be Guests of Honor at the Awards Ceremony on Sun., Nov. 22. CLICK or more information. |
| | CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY PRINTMAKING FOOTPRINT 2020 DEADLINE EXTENDED
JUNE 21The Center for Contemporary Printmaking's Footprint International Competition 2020, is an opportunity for the presentation of current trends and innovations in contemporary printmaking within the bounds of the one square foot (12" x 12") configuration. The square format was uncommon in art until the advent of abstraction and presents distinct challenges of composition and expression. Within these precise limits, artists must confront a space and create visual order and formal structure. All fine-art printmaking mediums, including woodcut, intaglio, lithography, screenprint, monotype, and original digital media may be utilized. (No drawings, photographs, or direct reproductions are eligible.) Art must be hand-pulled and generated using at least one traditional printmaking method. Computer generated art is eligible only if it incorporates other methods of hand pulled printing or handwork. The juror is Dr. Jane Kinsman, Distinguished Adjunct Curator at the National Gallery of Australia, and formerly Head of International Art, and Senior Curator of International Prints, Drawings and Illustrated Books at the National Gallery of Australia. Prizes: $1,000 in cash prizes and purchase awards, including $250 Binnie Birstein Memorial Scholarship Award and the Awagami Paper Award (50 sheets of Awagami Editioning papers). Apply here. |
| | | | NEW PARADIGM THEATRE CASTING CALL
MARCH 22
New Paradigm Theatre (NPT), is accepting video submissions for a talent search competition to cast a leading role in its August production of Footloose. “RUSTY” (the role made famous in the movie by Sarah Jessica Parker) must have incredible vocal talent and stage presence. Performers 16+ may submit. The finalists chosen from these videos will be featured at NPT’s May Gala in a “live callback” and will be voted on by the audience! The winner will be hired (if over 18 years old) or given free tuition (if ages 16-18 years old) to play the role. LEARN MORE. |
| | | | ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG FOUNDATION AND NYFA OFFER ARTISTS MEDICAL GRANTS
The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has partnered with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to administer a new medical emergency grant program called Rauschenberg Emergency Grants. This marks the first phase of a program that will be in the tradition of Change, Inc., a non-profit foundation established in 1970 by Robert Rauschenberg to assist professional artists of all disciplines in need. Beginning in late May/early June 2020, the program will provide visual and media artists and choreographers with one-time grants of up to $5,000 for medical emergencies. Learn more |
| | THE KENNEDY CENTER
VERY SPECIAL ARTS RFP
MARCH 25The Office of VSA and Accessibility at The Kennedy Center, Washington DC, seeks arts, education, and cultural organizations to provide accessible, arts-based education experiences to students with disabilities, transition opportunities to youth with disabilities, or professional development to educators of students with disabilities. Organizations are invited to submit proposals to implement VSA Programs. If you have experience, knowledge, and expertise working with students with disabilities pre-kindergarten through grade 12, or providing professional learning to their teachers, you could become a VSA Program site. Look at the Requests for Proposals for program specific details. See if your work aligns with VSA Program goals and if you have the capacity to execute a VSA Program in your community, schools, museums, or performing arts venues. View RFPs here. |
| | PAID ARTS INTERNSHIPS MARCH 30
The Arts Workforce Initiative (AWI) is a paid apprenticeship program that gives Connecticut college students, emerging creatives and military veterans an opportunity to gain high-level professional work experience with not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations throughout the state. This program is specifically designed for applicants from diverse and traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. A host organization must provide a hands-on and engaging learning opportunity that allows an individual to gain relevant skills and work experience in the arts. Selected host organizations will be granted $3,750 per apprentice to be used to pay an hourly rate of $15. Selected participants work 25 hours a week for 10 weeks for the selected host organization. Participants receive payment from the host organization where their apprenticeship will take place. View Application here. |
| | PEQUOT LIBRARY 2020 DILLON FELLOWSHIPS APRIL 4
Pequot Library in Southport, is pleased to announce the first year of the Dillon Fellowship Program, which will provide support to researchers working on the library’s collections for projects lasting between one week and one month. The Dillon Fellowship, supported by a generous donation from the Dillon Fund, will provide a stipend and living expenses for fellows, not including housing, for two fellows a year. Dillon Fellows will conduct research that draws on any aspect of our holdings. We are particularly interested in proposals focused on the history of libraries, but any projects that incorporate Pequot’s rare books and archival materials will be considered. The amount granted for each stipend will vary based on the length of the proposed project and the cost of travel, within a range of $700 to $3,000. Inquiries and completed applications should be directed to specialcollections@pequotlibrary.org Learn more |
| | | | VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS OFFER FREE CONSULTING
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts has created a volunteer "emergency response panel" of about five law firms ready and willing to advise artists and arts organizations on contracts, insurance, and labor and employment issues that might come up due to the coronavirus outbreak. Artists can contact VLA@artsandbusinesscouncil.org with questions and VLA service fees will be waived for any artists struggling with coronavirus-related crises! Most of the VLA volunteer panel is based in MA, however several lawyers are admitted in Connecticut and are offering their assistance. LEARN MORE |
| | | | SHARON LOUDEN BUILDING COMMUNITY FOR A SUSTAINABLE CREATIVE LIFE
Join this online workshop series (that started March 16) on building a sustainable career and creative life. Artist Sharon Louden will focus on leveraging artists’ inherent creativity, thinking outside the box about creating opportunities, and building relationships. Shen will review relevant information and examples of artists building communities that help empower those willing to put in the work to turn generosity into opportunities. Includes: ● Honing communication skills; ● Methodologies to follow when a new opportunity is identified; ●Approaching arts professionals without a referral; ●Best practices for building a community of artists; ● Meeting the needs and wants of artists. Highly recommended. |
| | | | MARKETING MANAGER WALL STREET THEATER
The Marketing Manager at the Wall Street Theater is the primary lead for developing, implementing and monitoring the Theater's marketing and public relations strategies, plans and budgets to meet or exceed objectives for ticket sales, advertising revenues, registrations, individual donations and other earned and contributed income sources. The Marketing Manager also provides support for fundraising and sponsor/donor initiatives of the theater. Full information here. |
| | ART TEACHERS ONE RIVER SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGNOne River School of Art & Design, a company whose mission is to "transform art education", is looking for part-time and full-time visual art teachers. The school is looking for hard-working, team players who love helping people learn and are motivated to grow. One River has developed a new method for teaching art that makes it fun to learn while also producing compelling outcomes. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful art educator with a proven track record of delivering engaging and student centric experiences in the classroom. Full information here. |
| | EXPRESSIVE ARTS FACILITATOR THE KENNEDY CENTER
A full-time Expressive Arts Facilitator is needed at the Kennedy Center in Bridgeport to develop and implement an expressive therapy program which interfaces with the clinical, behavioral and sensory needs and includes a variety of disciplines to provide opportunities for individuals to explore in the realm of music, art, drama, movement, etc. Among the requirements are Two years experience in area of specialization (i.e., music, art, drama, yoga, etc.). One year of experience working with people with disabilities, and PMT and CPR certifications. Full information here. |
| | DIRECTOR OF THEATER ARTS ST. LUKES SCHOOL
St. Luke’s School, a secular, college-preparatory day school serving grades 5 through 12 in New Canaan, seeks a talented Director of Theater Arts to begin July 1, 2020. Reporting directly to the Head of Upper School, this full-time position is an exceptional opportunity for a creative leader to craft the vision and direction from grades 5-12 for an award-winning Theater Arts program. Primary responsibilities include Work collaboratively with school colleagues to craft a vision and direction for Theater Arts in grades 5-12. Teach a combination of acting classes, currently including an 8th grade elective in the Middle School, one Upper School acting class, and the St. Luke’s Theater Company Advanced Acting elective in the Upper School. Produce 6-8 shows each year; direct 3 or more of them. Full information here. |
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JOBS, FOR SALE, FOR RENT, VOLUNTEERS, AND CALLS FOR ARTISTS - CONSULT AND POST IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS |
| | | MARCH
APRIL April 3: Katonah Museum: Cladogram Submission Deadline
April 30: Maritime Garage Gallery: DeFACEment Extended Submission Deadline JUNE June 5: Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum: Young Writer's Application Deadline June 5: Center for Contemporary Printmaking: Footprint 2020 Extended Deadline
AUGUST
ROLLING DEADLINES Gottlieb Foundation: Emergency Grant Program (painters, printmakers, and sculptors) ioby/ArtPlace America: Artists Lead!: creative placemaking crowdfunding plus |
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| | | 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. Donations are always very welcome and may be made here. In particular, we are grateful for support from: |
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