The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
De Rahm to lead CultureMax Awards
Arts council’s new director started work this week
TORRINGTON — When Rufus de Rahm steps on the stage tonight, he will present a new landscape for the future of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council. The Kent native will serve as host for the fifth annual CultureMAX Awards at the Warner Theatre at 5:30 p.m. His appearance will mark the start of his new position as the art council’s executive director.
This year’s CultureMAX award recipients include Thomasina Levy, a former Connecticut State Troubadour; educator Leslie Elias; artist Luke Pepper; Carol Ascher, Ken Buckbee, the Washington Art Association, and Thomaston Savings Bank.
De Rahm is the second executive director to be hired by the organization, which launched 15 years ago. The art council’s founding director, Amy Wynn, was hired in June as the first executive director of the American Mural Project in Winsted.
Prior to being hired by the arts council, de Rahm was working as the programming operations manager at Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City.
He said accepting the new job meant he and his partner, who is from Salisbury, could move back to Litchfield County, something they had wanted to do for years.
Taking the helm of the arts council, which serves 25 towns in the region, is the “next step in my career,” de Rahm said.
In the eight years he worked in New York, his career dovetailed with a number of cultural organizations, including the New York Asian Film Festival and Subway Cinema.
“It was nothing short of amazing,” to have those opportunities, he said.
His vision for the arts council, de Rahm said, is to focus on “expanding our community outreach.”
The nonprofit serves 25 towns, but he said he plans to “stick to a three-town radius at first, and then expand.”
“The Northwest Corner is a small area. There are a lot of young people who want to do things with family. We can do a cultural mix of events and work with civic organizations and art groups to benefit the community,” de Rahm said.
Kathy Peck, chairwoman of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council’s Board of Directors, wrote in a statement that de Rahm’s “enthusiasm and diverse background in the arts will help us continue to nurture, promote and preserve the arts and culture industry for which our region is nationally recognized.”
One of the art council’s strongest resources, de Rahm believes, is its calendar that lists five categories of events each month ranging from performing and visual arts, to literary and film presentations and family programs.
His background with film festivals has prompted de Rahm to consider launching workshops at the arts council on film history, film-making and even how produce a film festival. He also hopes to offer workshops on film archiving and share the importance of preserving historic films.
“He’s ready to build on what our staff, volunteers and board members, past and present, have built over the past 16 years. It’s a new exciting chapter for our region,” Peck said.
The importance and attraction of CultureMAX Awards ceremony, de Rahm said, is parallel with the annual summer event called “Open Your Eyes Studio Tours.”
“Last year, they had over 1,000 visitors,” for the studio tours. “I want to expand the mix of established artists and younger artists,” who participate, he said.
While the arts council has been in operation for more than a dozen years, de Rahm is the only full-time employee. He and two part-time staff members will manage the entire operation.
“Really, in order for the council to survive into the future, it needs to grow,” he said.
“I plan on doing a lot of grant writing and fund raising,” de Rahm said. “It’s absolutely crucial that arts become integral to civic and historical organizations.”
For more information on the CultureMAX awards, call 860-618-0075 or visit artsnwct.org/. Tickets to the event are $10. The Warner Theatre is located at 68 Main St.