e-Lights: September 2023 Highlights

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Subject: e-Lights: September 2023 Highlights

September 2023 Highlights

Thank you once again for helping us meet our mission to support cultural organizations, artists and creative businesses through our marketing, capacity building, professional development, and advocacy initiatives.

Every day, you motivate us to strengthen and enhance the Arts and Culture landscape of Fairfield County. Thank you!

A Greeting From Our New Executive Director: Erika K. Wesley

I am honored to serve you all as the new Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. When I think about the best of Fairfield County, I think of the people whose artistry adds color everywhere we look: our sidewalks, our classrooms, our galleries, our community centers, and so many more spaces. As we fall forward into a season of gratitude, I offer you all what you have offered me: warmth and a sense of community.

I knew this role would strengthen my leadership skills, but I took it because I wanted to leverage my creative senses and immerse myself in a creative community. As my first month in this role draws near, I have been able to do that and more, and we are just getting started! I look forward to meeting you as I make my way around the county.

My goal is to continue to nurture the values of this organization that has drawn hundreds of creative people and organizations across Fairfield County into its fold.

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Arts & Economic Prosperity (AEP6) Study Results Revealed

On October 12, the Arts & Economic Prosperity (AEP6) report was released, revealing that the nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $151.7 BILLION in economic activity. This economic and social impact study was conducted by Americans for the Arts. That study also noted that 2.6 million jobs and $29.1 billion in tax revenue was generated by the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Fairfield County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $255.3 million in economic activity in 2022. That economic activity–$179.7 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $75.6 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences supported 4,015 jobs and generated $62.6 million in local, state, and federal government revenue. From a social perspective, 86% of survey participants indicated that arts and culture improve quality of life and 72% believe that the arts help to provide shared experiences with people of different cultures. The Arts are a robust industry and a mighty ecosystem. A small investment in the arts delivers big returns!

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Local Arts Agencies Unite!

A convening of the local arts agencies, councils and commissions of Fairfield County at Fairfield Old Town Hall resulted in lively discussion, insights, and plans for the future. Arts and culture leaders from across the county came together to update each other about their work and share stories and information about their relationships with town government, residents, and other stakeholders. Liz Shapiro, head of the CT Office of the Arts participated by providing her sense of how the arts agencies fit into the ecosystem of arts and culture in the state.

Member Highlight: Mary & Eliza Freeman Center

Senator Blumenthal, Representative Jim Himes, and a representative for Senator Chris Murphy visited Bridgeport to support and celebrate the mission of Maisa Tisdale to restore, preserve, and ensure the viability of the Freeman Center. The Center was recently awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service as part of the Historic Preservation Fund's African American Civil Rights grant program. The houses, once owned by sisters Mary and Eliza Freeman who were prosperous 19th century real estate developers, are now the only surviving, original structures of Little Liberia and they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their significance to African Americans and Women.

WPKN FM "Spotlight On Arts & Culture" Recap

David Green sat behind the WPKN microphone one last time to share clips from some of his favorite Spotlight broadcasts over the years - six years of highlight interviews with arts organizations, creatives, and cultural institutions.

He discussed his choices with new CAFC executive director, Erika K. Wesley who shared her insights. Together, they celebrated the past, sat in the present, and looked ahead to the future of arts and culture in Fairfield County.

LISTEN

Farewell and Thank You!

We formally said thank you and farewell to the extraordinary David Green who dedicated ten years of service to organizational leadership, program development, and community building at the Cultural Alliance and throughout Fairfield County. Watch a portion of the amazing farewell celebration below.

WATCH

Thank you for your support. Because of you...

We thrive.

Our members thrive.

Our community thrives.

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Pass It On... Membership has benefits! All coastal Fairfield County creatives, arts organizations, cultural institutions, and creative business are eligible for CAFC membership. LEARN MORE

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& MEDIA PARTNERS

We are grateful to our members and donors whose support enables us to do our work. In particular, we are grateful for support from:

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit arts & culture network that supports the creative sector and its value to community life - supporting members with marketing, capacity building, professional development, networking, and advocacy services. With a membership of nearly 600 artists and arts and cultural organizations from a 15-town region, we connect, inform, promote and advocate for the arts - together.

Contact us at: 203-256-2329 or info@culturalalliancefc.org

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Subject: e-Lights: September 2023 Highlights