Windham Arts was appointed as the 2013 Designated Regional Service Organization for Northeast Connecticut. The appointment and grant was made by the Department of Economic and Community Development and is to support the state’s creative economy and provide cultural leadership to a broad diversity of regional constituents. Designated Regional Service Organizations (DRSO) assist the Connecticut Office of the Arts to develop and sustain industry and cross sector relationships and convene constituents to assess their needs. They provide coordinated marketing, technical assistance, advocacy and other programs for arts, culture, history and tourism organizations, individuals and events. The DRSO’s work with the CT Office of the Arts to support their programs and services and serve as their local representatives.
The DRSO program is new this year, replacing the state’s Local Arts Agency grant program. Windham Arts will now be covering the towns they serviced under the Local Arts Agency program in addition to the towns previously covered by the Northeast Cultural Alliance and the town of Stafford. The region includes the towns of: Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Hebron, Killingly, Lebanon, Mansfield, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Stafford, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Union, Willington, Windham, and Woodstock.
“These changes are an important step in maximizing the economic impact of the arts in our communities and on our economy as a whole. We will continue to focus on promoting the economic benefits of the state’s arts attractions while funding projects that have higher job growth potential,” said Catherine Smith, commissioner of DECD.
Windham Arts’ mission is to develop and support the promotion of the Arts, Cultural Resources, Tourism, and Economic Development of the Northeast Connecticut Region. They maintain a creative directory that includes all venues and studies, a calendar of cultural events, a newsletter to promote its constituents and disseminates state, regional and national arts information, provides training and professional development opportunities.
To best service the region, Windham Arts is creating two program committees, one for the Windham area and one in the Putnam area. The program committees are made up of volunteers who share an interest in promoting arts, culture and history and create the programs that serve their constituents. Anyone interested in participating on either committee should send an email to info@windhamarts.org.
For more information about Windham Arts or the Designated Regional Service Organization please call call 860-423-6389.
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