Arts council celebrates culture to the max

TORRINGTON — The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, along with 200 guests, paid tribute to seven honorees at the fourth Annual CultureMAX Awards Event on Nov. 14 at The Warner Theatre in Torrington. This annual event celebrated the inspiring works and contributions that various people, organizations, and businesses have made to northwest Connecticut’s cultural fabric.

The 2017 recipients honored during the evening were Susan Becker Aziz, of Bantam, in the Artist category — she has designed and fabricated costumes and sets for theater and dance in Litchfield County and beyond for over 25 years; Adam Atkins, of Harwinton, who teaches at The Gilbert School in Winsted, in the Art Educators category — he has taught music at The Gilbert School for over 27 years, and also teaches adults through several community vocal music groups he has established; and Mark McEachern, of Torrington, in the Heritage Professional category – he is an historian and history advocate who leads the Torrington Historical Society and who has had a key role in valuable region wide programs and city wide preservation and promotional efforts

Ellen Paul of Warren won in the Volunteer category — she has gone way above and beyond in her volunteer capacity at Warren Historical Society, inspiring many others to do the same; TheatreWorks New Milford in the Cultural Organization category — the company has produced high quality musicals and dramas and ensures that audiences have access to attend and participate in their various programs; and Torrington Savings Bank in the Culture-Loving Business category — a business that has generously supported numerous cultural organizations and which is artist-friendly on several levels. There was a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to artist Tim Prentice, of Cornwall, for his far-reaching creativity and endless encouragement and support of artists and cultural organizations region-wide.

State Troubadour Kate Callahan, began the evening’s stage festivities. Michael Price, chairman of the Arts Advisory Council on Culture and Tourism for Connecticut's Department of Economic Development, and former executive director producer of Goodspeed Opera House, was the guest speaker, with high praise for the Warner Theatre and the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council. Steve Criss, chairman of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council’s board of directors, as Master of Ceremonies for the evening with several other Council board members presenting awards. The event was sponsored by Litchfield Distillery, Thomaston Savings Bank, with support from Northwest Community Bank, Aquarion Water Company and The Warner Theatre.

The CultureMAX Awards presented this year were seven one-of-a-kind glass globe sculptures created by Nunwell Glass, of Lime Rock. Nunwell Glass is the collaborative identity of glass makers Andrew Pyle and Leslie French.

The annual CultureMAX awards were established in 2014 by the Arts Council to recognize artists (inclusive of all disciplines), heritage professionals, cultural organizations, volunteers and businesses that have elevated the stature of arts and/or heritage within the region of northwest Connecticut.

For information about the CultureMAX awards event go to www.culturemax.org or call or email info@artsnwct.org.

Contributed photo Northwest Connecticut Arts Council members honored the recipients of their annual CultureMAX awards at the Warner Theatre. Above, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to artist Tim Prentice of Cornwall.