Inspiring, engaging, and connecting the creative community

Our Mission & Values

Our mission is to elevate the role of the arts to build community and economic vitality.

We believe that access to arts and culture is a universal human right, meeting both a social and psychological need.

Through promotion and advocacy we support a vibrant, vital, and necessary component of our community.

The NWCT Arts Council is one of 8 regional Arts Councils designated by the CT Office of the Arts, which is branch of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

Service Area: Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Burlington, Colebrook, Cornwall, Falls Village/Canaan, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, New Milford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Plymouth, Roxbury, Salisbury/Lakeville, Sharon, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren, Washington, and Winchester/Winsted.

Shades of Autumn, Mixed Media

DJ Stenson, @djstensonart

Our Vision for the Future

We envision being the central regional resource to empower, facilitate, and fortify the arts in Northwest Connecticut.

That's why we have created a 5-year Strategic Plan to pave the way forward to 2028.

View Strategic Plan

Our Areas of Focus

Community Wellness

Art is an important tool for promoting mental health and building a connected and strong community. We are dedicated to making the arts available to everyone.

Economic Development

The arts industry generates about $34 million annually in our region, and every dollar put into the arts provides a $7 return on investment.

The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is one of 8 statewide Designated Regional Service Organizations (DRSOs) of the CT DECD Office of the Arts. Programming comes with the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

History

Amy Wynn, Founder

2003: The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council was established in June 2003, as a collaborative partnership between the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. The Arts Council was founded by Amy Wynn; First website launched.

2004: In-depth Regional Cultural Assessment. The results were used to guide the Council decisions on how to best serve the 25-town region.

2007: First edition of the monthly print calendar; Bear Affair public art event featuring local artists; Selected as a field office for CT Office of the Arts' Peer Advisor Network.

2009: Chairish the Arts public art event featuring local artists.

2010: First Annual Open Your Eyes Studio Tour; State participation in Arts & Economic Impact Study 4 , conducted by Americans for the Arts (data released in 2012); First year administering UNICO award to young, local creatives.

2014: 2nd Regional Culture Assessment; First Annual CultureMAX Awards to honor local artists, arts educators, cultural professionals, arts organizations, and supporting arts businesses.

2015: Regional participation in Arts & Economic Impact Study 5 , conducted by Americans for the Arts (data released in 2017).

2016: First year administering CT Office of the Arts' Regional Initiative Grants to artists and small arts businesses in NWCT; Initial partnership with Mass MoCA's Assets for Artists program to organize professional development workshops.

2017: Over The Edge fundraiser held at Torrington Towers.

2018: First Annual Make Music NWCT, part of international Make Music Day; Tails of NWCT public art project in partnership with Prime Time House and the Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce featuring local artists; First event of new Arts Night Out networking series; Amy Wynn takes on a new position as the Executive Director at the American Mural Project and Rufus de Rham steps in as Executive Director.

2019: 10 Year Anniversary of the Open Your Eyes Studio Tour; First Annual Litchfield Hills Creative Awards (previously known as CultureMAX); First Annual Art Gives Back Art Supply Drive to benefit partner nonprofits.

2020: Rufus de Rham moves on to become the Executive Director of the Warner Theatre and Steph Burr takes over as Executive Director; Development of new Strategic Plan; Development of NWCT Artist Emergency Relief Fund to aid local creatives through hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; Development of the regional "Shop Local Art" directory.

2021: The Arts Council receives first ever grant from the National Endowment for the Arts; $150,000 for emergency COVID-19 re-granting support for the region. The first annual Litchfield Hills Creative Festival is launched. Facilitation of the Torrington Civil Rights Mural in partnership with RiseUp for the Arts, Our Culture is Beautiful, and Mental Health CT.

We thank the following organizations for their commitment and support in establishing the organization: Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, and the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.

Meet the Team

Steph Burr

Executive Director

Steph is an artist and arts advocate living in Torrington. She has degrees in Digital Media and Fine Art, with a background in business, industrial design & advertising.

DaSilva Wata

Program Coordinator

DaSilva is an artist and graphic designer born and raised in Torrington, CT. Their love for the arts started at a young age, and they have been pursuing art since they were 14.

Katherine Pelletier

Development & Outreach Coordinator

Katherine has a background as a elementary school music teacher. She has her BA in Music Performance/Music Education and a Masters Degree in Arts Management.