GAA receives Artscape grant

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Granby Artists Association receives Artscape grant

By Lori Catlin Garcia

The Granby Artists Association is honored to be the recipient of a $2,000  Artscape grant from the Greater Hartford Arts Council to promote its annual open studio tour. Funded by the Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign with support from designated gifts to the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, Artscape grants are designed to provide critical funding for concerts, theater, dance, exhibits and musical productions located within their 34-town service area. These grants also provide funding for programs that help improve quality of life for residents.

The Artists Association is one of the 41 arts and cultural organizations in the Greater Hartford area to receive a total of $70,000 in Artscapes grants. “The arts play an integral role in helping residents of our community,” says Cathy Malloy, chief executive officer of the Greater Hartford Arts Council. “Whether it’s providing support for arts therapy programs for dementia patients, or integrating the arts in STEM education, Artscape Grants help make that possible.” A volunteer panel of seven community leaders, chaired by the Arts Council’s board member Carol Terry, reviewed each application and evaluated each proposal based on the potential to serve a range of constituents in Greater Hartford and to enrich lives through the arts, as well as the significance of the project to the community served.

Twelve artists working in a variety of media founded the Granby Artists Association in 2002. The group’s goal was to raise awareness of the quality of artwork being created within Granby by running an open studio tour. Incorporated in 2006, the group reaffirmed its goals of supporting a climate which promotes the visual arts and fine crafts, creates professional artistic high quality events and supports art education in the community.

As the membership of Granby Artists has grown, so have their activities. The biggest event is the annual open studio tour each October. The group also works with the Granby Land Trust to support their annual paint-out and juried art show each fall; and in December, they present a holiday gift show. In support of art education, an arts scholarship is awarded to a qualified Granby student each year. Members of the association recently presented a hands-on Art Fun Day for families at Holcomb Farm, and they partnered with local schools and the Senior Center to bring art to a broad spectrum of the local community.

The Granby Artists Association Open Studio tour will take place, October 17 and 18, at locations throughout the Granby community. This year, the artists hope to partner with art students at Granby Memorial High School, and show their artwork at selected locations. Many artists will open their studios for the tour with live demonstrations available. Among those showing will be potters, painters, glass-blowers, photographers and jewelry artists. For more information, please visit www.granbyartists.org.