ACE AWARDS
CELEBRATING PASSION FOR THE ARTS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Fairfield County has no shortage of individuals and organizations working to improve access to the arts, and the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County celebrates the diversity of arts as well as the impact arts and culture have on communities. The winners of its sixth annual Daniel E. Offutt III Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) Awards will be recognized June 15 at a breakfast at the Norwalk Shore and Country Club.
David Green, the alliance’s executive director, said after having last year’s event canceled and the 2020 edition virtual, they are excited to be back with a live event. “Our theme this year will be on how artists, arts educators, cultural nonprofits, philanthropists and companies have worked within communities to strengthen their resiliency and keep hope alive during the pandemic.”
ACE President’s Award
A special award, the ACE President’s Award, will go posthumously to Alexandra D. Korry, the founder of the Norwalk Art Space. She passed away before The Norwalk Art Space opened in June 2021. Artistic director Duvian Montoya said the space would not be all it is today without Korry’s guiding vision.
“Her original mission was to really give underrepresented artists a showcase…and free art education through our resident artists program,” he said. “Because of that plan of attack, we have been able to really showcase the great talent in the region and we are honored that we have been able to fulfill her mission and her dream of giving art to all.”
ACE Corporate Award
Receiving the ACE Corporate Award is Fairfield County Bank, which donated $700,000 in corporate contributions to 55 arts and culture nonprofits and provided over 675 volunteer hours in the last five years.
“It is the Bank’s honor to support charitable organizations whose mission it is to bring people in the community together, by sharing their artistic talents while providing cultural experienc
es for all ages,” said Daniel Berta, president of Fairfield County Bank. “Over the years, Fairfield County has grown into a thriving cultural destination, thanks to the community’s charitable arts and culture organizations who are dedicated to making Fairfield County the vibrant cultural hub that it is today.”
Educator Award
Being presented with the Educator Award is Pam Lewis, executive director of Connect-Us in Bridgeport, a youth development organization that offers free afterschool programs to help young people to develop the skills they need to be successful
in life from teamwork skills to writing resumes or finding their voice. “Arts and culture are vital for humanity. They are a way for people from different backgrounds to come together and to create something new,” she said. “We are building bridges across Fairfield County by bringing people together from different races and different backgrounds to see new possibilities for Fairfield County and to co-create a new kind of community.”
Nonprofit Award
City Lights Gallery/ Bridgeport Art Trail, an artist-led organization helmed
by Suzanne Kachmar, will receive the Nonprofit Award. Kachmar said she was humbled and grateful for the recognition by her peers. The award will further validate their work over the last 18 years to encourage community support for its arts initiatives as community partnerships and networking are key, she said.
“We continue to serve our community through art, which includes listening to ideas and perspectives, asking some questions and incubating new projects while sustaining annual programs like the Bridgeport Art trail and Greater Bridgeport Pride.”
Citizen of the Year
ACE’s award for Citizen of the Year will go to Bill Felton, chairman of the board of directors at the Westport Arts Center (now MoCA Westport) for over ten years. “MoCA Westport is our gift to the community intended to heighten yearround exposure to visual arts in a true museum environment,” he said, noting offerings range from a concert series to art education programs for youth and adults. “My involvement, which is shared enthusiastically by our staff, volunteers and Board of Directors, is our way of giving back to the community. We all feel
we are making a difference by providing a first class exposure to art and entertainment.”
Artist Award
“Modest” and “surprised” best describes Bridgeport visual artist Alicia Cobb’s reaction to being named the Artist Award winner. She was not aware she had been nominated for her work as a teaching artist who connects with students through arts integration residencies and curricular enhancement programs.
“Teaching/guiding youth through art is so important to me because art was so instrumental to my life as a child/adolescent,” she said. “Art gave me a way of expressing what I was feeling and thinking when I didn’t know any other way; art gave me a voice. I feel that it’s so important for people to be able to express themselves creatively. Art gives people a freedom that they don’t often find in other ways.”
For more information visit culturalalliancefc.org.