Arts and culture grant recipients announced

TORRINGTON >> The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council recently awarded $30,000 to nine recipients within its 25-town region in northwest Connecticut.

The Department of Economic and Community Development’s Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) developed the Regional Initiative Grant program (REGI) in partnership with its nine Designated Regional Cultural Service Organizations. These regional partners make up an effective statewide service network of which the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is a member. The REGI grant program was designed for those interested in the creation of small cultural projects that expand equitable access to the creative process and/or creative experiences, especially projects that experiment with new ways to apply the arts within a community.

“We are grateful that the state continued its second year of dedicated funding for cultural projects through the REGI program,” said Amy Wynn, the council’s executive director, in a written statement. “I’ve been told that this program reaches far more of the 169 municipalities in our state than most granting programs and I am proud of the applications that came our way. My only wish is for more funding so that additional worthy projects can be supported in our region.”

The FY2017 REGI grant awardees: Friends of Main Street, Winsted for their public art competition; Warren Historical Society, Arts Heritage Program with artist Albert Coffill; Joel Melendez of Harwinton for his Capoeira for the Community project; Debra Lill of Colebrook, for her Virtual Views project at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington; SingOut! CT of New Preston, for their presentation of Amahl and the Night Visitors as a collaborative educational project; Regional School District #10 for the Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra educational children’s concerts; Keith Paul Lapotasky of Torrington for his Shakespeare Experience theater project; Torrington Police Activities League of Torrington for the Key to the City project; and Region One School District of Falls Village for the Using Musical Theatre to Bring Generations Together project.

Kristina Newman-Scott, the Connecticut Office of the Arts Director of Culture, stated, “It is essential that we more equitably deliver funding throughout the many municipalities and myriad villages that frame our state’s landscape. While these REGI projects represent a relatively small investment, drawn from a combination of our state funds and a National Endowment for the Arts federal grant, they can have a very positive impact on the state’s wealth of small, grass roots cultural organizations and impressive artists and creative workers.”

The Connecticut Office of the Arts develops and strengthens the arts in Connecticut and makes artistic experiences widely available to residents and visitors. Through its grant programs, the Office of the Arts invests in Connecticut artists and arts organizations, encourages the public’s participation as creators, learners, supporters, and audience members, and connects people to the arts to build vital communities across the state. Visit www.cultureandtourism.org for more information.

The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is the Connecticut State Office of The Arts Designated Regional Cultural Service Organization for northwest Connecticut. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the arts, history, culture and tourism throughout its 25town region. Visit artsnwct. org for more information or call 860-618-0075.

Cider 5K Run/Walk benefits scholarships

WARREN >> Warren Parks and Recreation and the Warren Land Trust will hold its 8th annual Cider 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. with a Kids Fun Run at 9:45 a.m., to benefit their Wamogo Scholarship Fund Endowment with Connecticut Community Foundation.

This event is truly a unique experience for the whole family. The race features a fast out and back USATF certified course through the autumn foliage of Warren, CT starting and ending at Warren Woods Park on Brick School Road. The race offers delicious treats such as apple cider donuts, apple cider, an assortment of fruit and more. After the Kids Fun Run, for 12 and under, participants can enjoy free pumpkin painting. The race features chip timing for fast efficient results as well as music for your entertainment. Prizes given to the first three overall male and female finishers, and first finishers in each age group. For more information and online registration, go to http:// www.fasttracktiming.com, or Carla Angevine at carlahangevine@hotmail.com or 860-806-3789.