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New Haven, Conn. (August 25, 2020) –When one contemplates women’s suffrage, leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton often come to mind. Professor Kelly Marino of Sacred Heart University will share the remarkable story of a lesser-known, revolutionary leader in the fight for women’s suffrage, Augusta Lewis Troup, a journalist who advocated for unions, women’s and minority rights, and co-founded the New Haven Union, a newspaper dedicated to these topics. The free New Haven Museum program, “Augusta Troup and a Different Path to Women’s Suffrage,” will be held via Zoom on Thursday, September 10, at 5:30 p.m. Register here. Marino notes that Troup’s story is remarkable because her most significant achievements took place in her teen or young-adult years. She also transcended gender and class norms and had a more forward-thinking ideology about sex equality than other people during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Troup was born in New York City in 1848. She was orphaned at a young age and adopted by a wealthy businessman. He sent her to the elite Brooklyn Heights Seminary and later the Catholic Convent School of the Sacred Heart in Manhattanville to be educated. But her life of privilege was cut short when her guardian, Isaac Baldwin Gager, lost his fortune. Troup was left provide for herself, however, using her language skills and cultural knowledge to work her way up in the newspaper industry. Marino notes that although Troup was successful compared to others, she was disgusted overall with the treatment that women received in the profession. As a result, she became active in the local labor movement and helped to get women admitted on more equal terms to the Typographical Union to create change. While Troup thought the vote was important to female advancement, unlike other women’s suffragists she believed that women's economic equality really was the most important factor to achieve in securing their long-term success. She went on to marry Alexander Troup, a fellow labor activist, and the couple moved to Connecticut. When Alexander died prematurely, she supported herself as a teacher and became involved in many charity and social-reform causes, particularly in advocacy of Italian immigrants in New Haven and other minorities. Troup also became a teacher in the New Haven, and was an outspoken member of the Board of Education who advocated for teachers’ rights and the importance of education. In 1911, she successfully established the New Haven Teachers’ League and lobbied the state of Connecticut for the provision of pensions for public school teachers. Ironically, Troup died on September 14, 1920, the date on which Connecticut finally ratified the 19th Amendment. She was memorialized with the naming of the Augusta Lewis Troup School in New Haven in 1926. The plaque in the school foyer reads: “We affectionately called her ‘Little Mother of the Italian Colony.’ Her broad sympathies and unfailing kindness helped us greatly when we most needed wise counsel and loyal friendship. Her liberal spirit and noble example lead us far along the road to a better understanding of American ideals and citizenship.” NHM also welcomes the return of the “Rise Up, Sisters,” banner exhibit, created in conjunction with the Connecticut Historical Society with the support of Connecticut Humanities, that chronicles the diverse group of Connecticut women who were instrumental in the movement for women’s suffrage. The exhibit will remain on view through September 16, 2020. The museum will be open for visitors by advance reservation as of September 8, 2020. To make a reservation, please email info@newhavenmuseum.org. About Kelly Marino Marino is an assistant lecturer of history at Sacred Heart University. She received her Ph.D. from Binghamton University (SUNY) and M.A. in history from University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A Connecticut native, she is passionate about state and local history, as well as women’s history and the history of sexuality. Her research focuses on social and political movements and Gilded Age/Progressive-Era America. She writes about reform, minority struggles, and activism. About the New Haven Museum The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the Museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach. As a designated Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, free admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information visit www.newhavenmuseum.org or Facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.

Guilford, CT – Guilford Art Center announces its reopening for the fall semester, which will begin the week of September 14. Online registration opens August 24. The fall semester of classes will include a hybrid selection of on-campus and online classes. Small-sized on-campus classes will meet to ensure proper social distancing; there will also be a robust selection of online offerings for those who choose to study remotely. The GAC Shop will be open for public hours to be announced by early September. The Shop is also open for online shopping as well as by appointment. GAC's campus has been closed since March, due initially to the Covid-19 pandemic, and subsequently for the completion of construction/improvements to the school building. Online classes and workshops were offered throughout the spring and summer, and the Shop has been open online. An in-person reopening, with state-approved guidelines, is designed to safely accommodate the community. "We are so happy to be able to welcome back our community members to our campus," says GAC Executive Director Maureen Belden. "We have guidelines in place to safely open our doors for students and visitors, including protocols for social distancing and wearing of masks. We're also pleased to continue offering online classes so that we can serve all of our students in the way they feel most comfortable." To see all classes and workshops and to register, visit the GAC website: www.guilfordartcenter.org. Follow GAC on social media: www.facebook.com/guilfordartcenter www.instagram.com/guilfordartcenter www.twitter.com/guilfordart For all information on GAC's reopening safety protocols, visit www.guilfordartcenter.org. For questions or more information, contact Guilford Art Center at info@guilfordartcenter.org.

Due to the success of the first concert series NEW PERFORMANCES ADDED featuring Connecticut Favorite David Lutken and The Seat Of The Pants Band September 10 - 27 on the Goodspeed lawn. EAST HADDAM, AUGUST 25, 2020: Goodspeed is delighted to announce a new fun and foot-stomping evening of live music featuring fan-favorite David Lutken and The Seat Of The Pants Band. Based on the huge success of the first set of outdoor concerts, Goodspeed Musicals has scheduled three new weekends of jubilant Americana music by the riverside! These newly-added Goodspeed by the River concerts will be held Thursdays – Sundays, September 10 - 27 at a NEW TIME, 5:30pm, on the lawn of The Goodspeed. Pack your picnic basket and lawn chairs and bring the family for a safe, fun and enjoyable Goodspeed evening. David Lutken and The Seat of the Pants Band offer up something for everyone! Sing along to American melodies from all across the country. From Traditional American and Irish tunes to’50’s and 60's Folk, mixed with the flavors of New Orleans Jazz, Bluegrass, Rock & Roll, Gospel, and of course beloved show tunes - it’s a guitar strummin’, harmonica playin’ all-American celebration of song! David Lutken has performed at Goodspeed Musicals and on Broadway as a musician and actor. He is known to Goodspeed audiences for his performances in productions including The Will Rogers Follies, Big River and Finian’s Rainbow. Around Connecticut, David has performed his original show Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie (Westport Country Playhouse, Ivoryton Playhouse and TheaterWorks Hartford). Accomplished actor/singer/musicians Christine Lyons (Goodspeed’s Big River) and Morgan Morse will join David in this celebration of our shared musical tradition. Beginning September 10 – 27, 2020, concerts will be held Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings on the Goodspeed lawn overlooking the scenic Connecticut River. All performances will be at a NEW TIME -- 5:30pm -- and are weather permitting. Come listen, sing along and enjoy a rousing musicale of Americana featuring a variety of songs from America’s past and present. Nothing says musicals like Goodspeed and nothing says summer like an outdoor concert. We’ve put the two together to create “Goodspeed by the River” – an outdoor concert event you won’t want to miss. All tickets are $25. Tickets are on sale now to all Goodspeed Members and will go on sale to the public beginning August 28, 2020. Tickets are only available by calling the Box Office at 860-873-8668. The Box Office is open Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00am – 5:00pm, Thursday & Friday 10:00am – 6:00pm and Saturday & Sunday 4:00pm – 6:00pm. An exclusive outdoor dinner and concert package is available which includes a two-course meal and reserved table seating on the Gelston House lawn for just for $49 per person. Call the Goodspeed Box Office for details and to purchase. Concerts on the Goodspeed lawn will have designated seating areas. Each seating area has space for up to six people (from the same party) and will be a minimum of 15 feet from other designated seating areas as required by Connecticut Reopen guidelines. Please note that Goodspeed follows state and CDC guidelines for safety. Face masks are required at all times, except when seated in your Designated Seating Area. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances and at portable restrooms. All guests are asked to maintain a 6 foot distance from other guests and Goodspeed staff at all times while attending the event. A complete list of audience guidelines, seating plan and event information can be found at goodspeed.org All guidelines are subject to change by federal, state, or local authorities. Please review all posted signage upon arrival for the most updated requirements. Under the leadership of Executive Director Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation, development and advancement of musical theatre and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement). Goodspeed produces mainstage musicals each season at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn., and additional works at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of Goodspeed’s official audio sponsor Sennheiser and official auto sponsor Hoffman Audi. Goodspeed is supported in part by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts. ### Twitter: @"goodspeedmusicl Facebook: Goodspeed Musicals and Instagram: goodspeedmusicals . For more information, to schedule an interview, or to receive stock art, please contact Elisa Hale (ext. 323) or Dan McMahon (ext. 324) at 860.873.8664, Elisa.Hale@goodspeed.org / Dan.McMahon@goodspeed.org

New Haven, Conn. –August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the day on which the 19th Amendment was made law. While celebrating the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote this year, the New Haven Museum (NHM) recognizes that women of color remained largely disenfranchised despite passage of the 19th Amendment. In fact, it was not until the Voting Rights Act was passed on August 6, 1965, that African American women were able to vote. The Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) will present exciting new research on the women of color who worked for women’s suffrage and advanced voting rights in, “The Work Must be Done: Women of Color and the Right to Vote.” The free program will be held via Zoom in conjunction with NHM on Wednesday August 26, 2020, from 1 to 3 p.m. Register here. Inspired by the words of notable African American reformer and political activist, Mary Townsend Seymour, “The work must be done,” the program includes conversation on the importance of having a history that is inclusive. Ilene Frank, CHS chief curator, Karen Li Miller, CHS research historian, and Professor Brittney Yancy of Goodwin University will raise up the stories of women such as Seymour, Rose Payton, Minnie Glover, Sarah Brown Flemming, and others. Participants will gain a broader understanding of the role women of color played in the women’s suffrage movement and of the restrictions, stemming from systemic racism, that limited women of color from being more officially involved in the movement, notes Frank. “We also hope to inspire professional historians, historical societies and community historians to engage in history research on this topic.” Franks adds that the presenting historians themselves have been gaining additional insight as they offer this presentation at locations around the state. “We've had feedback from participants who have identified other places where the research team can look, including church archives, and key individuals to track down.” “The Work Must be Done: Women of Color and the Right to Vote” was made possible with support from Connecticut Humanities. About Connecticut Historical Society A private, nonprofit, educational organization established in 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society is the state’s official historical society and one of the oldest in the nation. Located at One Elizabeth Street in Hartford, the CHS houses a museum, library, and the Edgar F. Waterman Research Center that are open to the public and funded by private contributions. The CHS’s collection includes more than four million manuscripts, graphics, books, artifacts, and other historical materials accessible at our campus and on loan at other organizations. The CHS collection, programs and exhibits help Connecticut residents connect with each other, have conversations that shape our communities, and make informed decisions based on our past and present. About the New Haven Museum The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the Museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach. As a designated Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, free admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information visit www.newhavenmuseum.org or Facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.

EAST HADDAM, AUGUST 5, 2020: Nothing says musicals like Goodspeed and nothing says summer like an outdoor concert. We’ve put the two together to create “Goodspeed by the River” – an outdoor concert event you won’t want to miss. The concerts will be held on the Goodspeed lawn overlooking the scenic Connecticut River and feature songs, stories and plenty of live music from some of our favorite performers. Pack your picnic basket and lawn chairs and bring the family for a safe, fun and enjoyable Goodspeed evening. The concert event will feature the boisterous, Broadway-inspired bluegrass quartet The Playbillies with Andrew Crowe, Matt Cusack, Mike Rosengarten and Sam Sherwood. Motivated by their love of bluegrass music and Broadway classics, the group set out to “bluegrassify” every show tune they could – the result is a boot-stompin’, smile-inducing, gotta sing-along good time! “We are proud to be performing at Goodspeed,” the group shared, “especially because our very first Bluegrass cover featured a tune that was born onstage in East Haddam.“ They continued, “It’s a tune that bears a lot of weight during these times of quarantine and social distancing and it’s an adage we firmly believe in, ‘The sun will come out Tomorrow!’” Goodspeed’s Executive Director Michael Gennaro shared, “Since we are not able to produce great musicals in our theaters this year, we are pleased to offer something special during this time – Goodspeed by the River. We are thrilled to welcome our Members and audience back to the Goodspeed campus for a joy-filled night of entertainment and fun. Goodspeed by the River concerts may be a new experience for our audiences but the quality of the musical performers on stage combined with the work of our dedicated staff in this glorious setting will be equal to the great performances Goodspeed has been known for.” Beginning August 20 through September 6, concerts will be held Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. All performances will be at 6:00pm and are weather permitting. All tickets are $25. Tickets are on sale now to all Goodspeed Members and will go on sale to the public beginning August 11, 2020. Tickets are only available by calling the Box Office at 860-873-8668. The Box Office is open Monday – Thursday from 10:00am – 5:00pm. An exclusive outdoor dinner and concert package is available which includes a two-course meal and reserved table seating on the Gelston House lawn for just for $49 /person. Call the Goodspeed Box Office for details and to purchase. Box Office Hours will be Concerts on the Goodspeed lawn will have designated seating areas. Each seating area has space for up to six people (from the same party) and will be a minimum of 15 feet from other designated seating areas as required by Connecticut Reopen guidelines. Please note that Goodspeed follows state and CDC guidelines for safety. Face masks are required at all times, except when seated in your Designated Seating Area. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances and at portable restrooms. All guests are asked to maintain a 6 foot distance from other guests and Goodspeed staff at all times while attending the event. A complete list of audience guidelines, seating plan and event information can be found at goodspeed.org All guidelines are subject to change by federal, state, or local authorities. Please review all posted signage upon arrival for the most updated requirements. Under the leadership of Executive Director Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation, development and advancement of musical theatre and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement). Goodspeed produces mainstage musicals each season at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn., and additional works at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of Goodspeed’s official audio sponsor Sennheiser and official auto sponsor Hoffman Audi. Goodspeed is supported in part by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts.

- Future Choices, Shoreline Arts Alliance’s high school visual arts competition, has become a bona fide staple of the Connecticut Shoreline arts community. Its 35 year run has not dulled the enthusiasm of the exhibit’s founder, Earl Grenville Killeen. Earl, an artist, who established the Earl Grenville Killeen Award which is awarded annually to a student exhibitor, is excited about the young talent he witnesses each year, “The art is just very, very impressive… I see art that I wouldn’t be able to produce even to this day. These kids are so talented, I don’t know if it’s the art teachers or what, but it’s just such a fabulous thing to take in.” Killeen laughed and added, “A lot of times they make me feel inadequate.” Killeen won first place and three honorable mentions at the Westchester County Art Show his freshman year of high school and was awarded a scholarship to a co-educational, experimental, summer program which sparked his love for learning. “It really turned my life around” he reflects, “and I’m a person who pays back debts. I recall my grandmother once saying to me, ‘Earl, whatever you take from life make sure you return it, and if you can, return a little bit more.’ I never forgot that. I’ve always lived by that. So that’s what gave me the spur to do this.” A renowned Connecticut-based artist, Killeen believes the students are why Future Choices has remained so important and relevant all these years. “Young people are always courageous. And you know, I’m 71… and nobody wants to hear anything I have to say. But young people do have something to say, as is being demonstrated in the current social uprising we’re seeing all over the world. And I think it’s very important that they have an avenue through art, to speak, to reflect on what society is about and what their own lives are about. I think they need to be paid attention to,” said Killeen. In addition to founding Future Choices, Killeen generously gifted Shoreline Arts Alliance $20,000 to continue funding the program. In consideration of this, Earl added “People need to support the arts, because it doesn’t get done without support. I’ve been producing, producing, producing every single day, and in three years I’ve gone through $20,000 in supplies. And that doesn’t happen unless somebody supports me by buying my art. So it’s very important to have a voice out there to support it.” Shoreline Arts Alliance could not agree more! For more information: office@shorelinearts.org

Cromwell Creative District, A Division of Cromwell Arts Alliance Town of Cromwell introduces The Scarecrow Search in an effort to enhance the historic business district of Cromwell, has a new undertaking. Coming to the District in September and October: CCD is initiating a Scarecrow Search. Businesses in this geographic area and CCD will work together to create scarecrows that bring awareness to each business. So that residents and visitors can enjoy them, the scarecrows will be on display in safely walkable areas of the District. CCD is offering a variety of activities leading up to the Scarecrow Search. www.cromwellcreativedistrict.org

HARTFORD, CT – July 20, 2020 – Connecticut Dance Alliance (CDA) will present the state’s first National Dance Day on Saturday, September 19, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Webster Walk, located at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, Connecticut. The free outdoor community event will celebrate the joy of dance and showcase the diversity of dance in Connecticut while also encouraging fun and healthy body movement and creative expression. The event will feature live performances and workshops from Connecticut dance studios, companies, and independent performing artists; dance literature book presentations by Connecticut authors; a Dance-Me-a-Story demonstration for young children; and a gently-used/new dancewear fundraiser. Connecticut Dances – A Visual History , a touring exhibition presented by CDA and the Connecticut Historical Society, will also be on display. “National Dance Day has been celebrated across the country by cities and states over the past decade and has branched out to over 46 locations across the United States,” said Brianne M. Dwyer, CDA Vice President and event coordinator. “Connecticut needs to be represented in this nationwide celebration, as well. There is no better organization than CDA to spread public awareness of dance in all its forms and showcase our vibrant dance community to the state of Connecticut, specifically during this time of hardship and resilience for our performing artists.” The rain date for National Dance Day is Sunday, September 20, 2020. The event will follow all current Connecticut COVID-19 mandates for outdoor public events. For more information on National Dance Day, visit https://www.ctdanceall.org/ . About the Participants: Dimensional Dance Dimensional Dance was established in 2011 by Director Ruth Vesenka Lewis to inspire and educate through and about dance. The company is comprised of 10 dancers with a wide variety of dance backgrounds, from classical to contemporary. Their newest program, Ballet to Breakdancing, includes elements of ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. The END Ensemble The END Ensemble is a project-based contemporary dance company in Hartford. Founded in 2017 by Artistic Director Erica Nelson, the END Ensemble prides itself on collaboration across all arts forms with the goal of strengthening the arts community throughout the Greater Hartford area. Visual artists, composers, writers and live musicians are regularly commissioned and featured alongside new dance works that not only contribute to but also challenge the dance canon. New England Ballet Theatre Rachael Gnatowski and Emily Orzada co-founded New England Ballet Theatre (NEBT) in January 2020 to bring high-quality dance performances to communities throughout New England. NEBT is a not-for-profit organization focusing on the development of new choreography and the production of new ballets, while giving choreographers the opportunity to have artistic freedom in their creative process. Based in Hartford, NEBT is working to expand its base and programs throughout New England. Evjen Academy of Performing Arts Founded by Diane M. Evjen, Evjen Academy of Performing Arts opened its doors in January 2006. Dancers are taught that success is not found in or bound by perfection, rather success is taking goals and following through with determination, perseverance and sweat. Evjen Academy of Performing Arts is proud to promote an environment of self-respect, genuine care for the world, and kindness overflowing as they nurture their dancers’ talents and techniques to better themselves and give back to the community. Baila Con Gusto Baila Con Gusto CT seeks to share and enrich the experience of all people who enjoy dancing. Founder Jason Ramos and Amanda Duvall put great value in developing rich cultural, social and artistic bridges that stretch beyond the classroom and into their broader communities. Understanding that not all people have the access, resources or knowledge to participate in dance, Baila Con Gusto CT provides professional dance entertainment and education services at affordable prices throughout Connecticut and New York City. GUSTO Dance GUSTO Dance cultivates dance as an expression of joy, beauty, and humor, and as a vehicle for connection and empowerment. Collaboration is their heartbeat; offering engaging, inspiring dance is their main goal. The Hartford Dance Collective founded in July 2017, is located in the heart of Parkville, Hartford. The Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, the Hartford Dance Collective works to bridge the gap between the arts and its community. CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts is an arts-focused magnet high school serving Hartford and its suburbs. CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts offers full and half-day programs for students from the capitol region and beyond with focused training in the arts. CT Tap Collaborative (CTC) The CTC is a safe space developed for personal growth and creativity as a dancer and musician. The CTC works to fully embody the joy of dance as they express themselves through the authentic rhythm of their hearts and souls. With a multitude of performance opportunities, CTC company members showcase the range of tap dance choreography throughout history while increasing their own creative abilities through improvisation and collaborative work. Leslie Frye Maietta In a 21st century dance climate where artist equals entrepreneur, embracing, encouraging and practicing versatility and diversity is radical and essential. Embodying this in dance and life has contributed to Leslie Frye Maietta’s successful career in concert and commercial dance spaces on an international to local scale. Leslie’s current creative work has been presented from Berlin to Boston, and her performing and teaching experience continues to be equally as distinct. Leslie’s eclectic and rich training/performance/research in techniques and forms encompassing Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary Dance, Improvisation, Hip Hop, Hoofing, Theatre and Gaga Movement Language take root in her creative work and teaching. Ballet Hartford Founder Elizabeth “Betsy” McMillian established the company as Vivid Ballet in Hartford in August 2016 with the purpose of promoting the true, the good and the beautiful. Having developed national and international recognition, and more than doubling its roster of dancers, the company re-branded as Ballet Hartford - establishing its affiliate school, School of Ballet Hartford, in August 2018. The company has professionally partnered with The University of Hartford’s The Hartt School Dance Division and shares a thriving exchange of resources and ideas. By producing programs that incorporate historical, classical ballet and new, artistically diverse choreographic works Ballet Hartford provides its audiences with performances that uphold tradition and celebrate innovation. Additional performers and workshop facilitators include Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Glastonbury, Karrington Trice, Point to Perfection Dance Studio, Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet, Toriography Dance Company, and ATTAK Dance Company. The event will also highlight CDA’s collaboration with Para Dance by Fred Astaire Dance Studios in West Hartford. About Connecticut Dance Alliance (CDA) Connecticut Dance Alliance, Inc. (CDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of dance in all its forms and serving the needs of the statewide dance community. Since 1999, CDA has created and presented numerous events such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dance – a day celebrating African-American dance traditions, CDA Distinguished Achievement in Dance Awards, Healthy Dancer Seminars and workshops on Planning a College Career in dance. In 2011, CDA founded and developed a successful summer scholarship annual competition, the Connecticut Classic , a competition for pre-professional classical ballet students. CDA also administers the Elena Delvecchio Rusnak Dance Education Scholarship. CDA’s current project, The Dance History Project. Through grassroots networking, the project endeavors to capture and share, through the art of photography and scholarly writing, a cultural and historical documentation of the rich and vibrant dance heritage in Connecticut. Using the 2,000 images submitted by the dance community, the curated Connecticut Dance exhibition has toured the state since 2017. In addition to the Dance History Project , other CDA initiatives include the further development of regional network consortiums to increase communication, partnerships, and opportunities for Connecticut’s dance community; dance education programs; and the new statewide dance resource database.

The Madison Art Society is sponsoring a Zoom art lecture by Courtney Skipton Long, Ph.D, Acting Assistant Curator, Prints and Drawings at Yale Center for British Art, on Friday, August 21 at 10AM. In the lecture, “An English Landscape Revealed: John Constable and the Poetry of Paint,” Long will examine the life and artistic practice of one of England’s most celebrated landscape painters, John Constable (1776-1837). The Zoom art lecture is free and open to the public. Unlike his contemporary, J.M.W. Turner, Constable was not a prodigy. He labored to acquire technical proficiency, spending years in art classes before being elected as a full member of the Royal Academy at age 52. Never traveling beyond his home country, Constable has been recognized as the local boy who transformed landscape painting, winning medals in France and admirers around the world. Dr. Courtney Skipton Long is a historian of art and architecture. A Connecticut native, Long received her B.A. in the History of Art and Medieval Studies from Mount Holyoke College and her Masters’ and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Her doctoral thesis focused on Medieval English architectural history and its Victorian reception. Long has held curatorial and research internships at Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge, MA), the Carnegie Museum of Art (Pittsburgh, PA), the Victoria and Albert Museum (London); and the Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme, CT). In 2016, she was the Zvi Grunberg Postdoctoral Fellow at the Bruce Museum (Greenwich, CT), which was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Art Collections at the Yale Center for British Art. Currently, Long is the acting Assistant Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Center where she oversees the largest collection of British works on paper housed outside of the UK; a collection that was generously donated to Yale by Paul Mellon and that includes several masterworks by Constable. To register for the Zoom lecture, please contact Marianne@RTDTECH.com. To learn more about the free Zoom lecture and about upcoming Madison Art Society events, please visit madisonartsocietyct.org

Shoreline Arts Alliance’s new initiative: REOPENING CT ARTS VENUES: SCIENCE-BASED SAFETY Preparedness, Consumer Confidence, Clarity for Constituents has become the guiding light for reopening arts venues in our state. The arts community wants to reopen, but, more importantly, artists want you and your family to be safe while attending art openings, exhibitions and performances. Early in the lockdown, Shoreline Arts Alliance recognized the statewide need for science-based knowledge and information for arts venues, organizations, artists and those creating regulatory protocols within the state of Connecticut. Shoreline Arts Alliance called upon the Yale School of Public Health and partnered with them to explore and deliver science-based information to inspire both artist and consumer confidence, and ensure economic success and long-term viability. Eric Dillner, Executive Director of Shoreline Arts Alliance, is the Founder and Chair of the Reopen CT’s Arts Venues Task Force which has created a series of webinars and presentations, “REOPENING CT ARTS VENUES: SCIENCE-BASED SAFETY, Preparedness, Consumer Confidence, Clarity for Constituents” that has drawn over 4000 participants and generated hundreds of questions to be answered by panelists. The arts community has a true hunger and strong desire to open its doors, looking through the lens of science. While this program was designed for Connecticut artists and arts venues, participants have joined from our neighboring New England states and from as far away as North Carolina. The second phase of this initiative has begun and Shoreline Arts Alliance staff and representatives from the Yale School of Public Health are busy traveling to venues throughout the state with a film crew to address the needs and changes that must made in each case to create safe environments for workers, performers and audience members or visitors. Recent visits have been made to Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, Real Art Ways and Mark Twain House in Hartford and Connecticut College Arboretum and waterfront stages and outdoor venues in New London. These video presentations will be shared to help others develop reopening plans and inspire consumer confidence, drawing audiences back to museums, indoor and outdoor performance venues, maker spaces, and studios. Additionally, as venues begin to open with prudence, Shoreline Arts Alliance will be hosting on-site media events to welcome audiences. Dillner, accompanied by local public health officials, will hold kick-off events to promote and inspire consumer confidence. Past webinars are available on the Shoreline Arts Alliance Facebook page and Youtube channel, and information about new webinars in the series can be found at www.shorelinearts.org. Shoreline Arts Alliance is excited to be providing this service to artists, arts organizations and consumers. Any arts venue or museum interested in scheduling a site visit is encouraged to email office@shorelinearts.org. ABOUT Shoreline Arts Alliance: Shoreline Arts Alliance, a Regional Service Organization of CT Department of Economic and Community Development-Office of the Arts, is a 501 (C) 3 organization founded in 1981 to serve individual artists, arts, cultural and heritage organizations, educational institutions, strategic partners and the community-at-large. Shoreline Arts Alliance’s mission is to Transform Lives through The Arts through our statewide arts offerings, scholarships, and work as your Arts Council. At the heart of our mission is the desire educate, encourage, enrich and engage and we follow these principles in all that we do. Learn more at www.shorelinearts.org For more information contact Diana Harris, Public Relations Associate, office@shorelinearts.org