DeLauro Announces National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Artspace

One of 66 National Winners

NEW HAVEN, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), joined by Artspace Executive Director Helen Kauder, today announced the New Haven non-profit has won an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Artspace was one of 66 winners nationwide and will receive up to $50,000 to support the expansion of the annual City-Wide Open Studios Festival.

“I can think of no better way to bring together the diverse residents of New Haven than by knitting together the myriad of sites and spaces showcased during City-Wide Open Studios, DeLauro said. “The Our Town fund is designed to encourage creative projects that transform our communal spaces into lively, beautiful and sustainable places with arts at their core. And that is what City-Wide Open Studios is all about.”

Kauder said: “Each October, during City-Wide Open Studios, our town hums with the creative energy of a community fully engaged in the production of, and the enjoyment of art. Thanks to this vital Federal support, Artspace looks forward to working with all our partners and the network of local working artists to make the festival a more educational, engaging, and meaningful part of the New Haven experience.

Artspace hosts gallery space for emerging artists and works to bring arts into the greater New Haven community. The Our Town grant will support the expansion of City-Wide Open Studios into some of New Haven’s oldest neighborhoods. Over 65 studio sites will feature creations by 350 visual artists. Artspace and the City of New Haven are the lead partners, and work closely on the project with the Town Green Special Services Business Improvement District, Elm City Cycling and local businesses. DeLauro, a former chair of the Greater New Haven Connecticut Arts Council, wrote a letter in support of the grant application.

The NEA received 275 applications for Our Town this year, the fourth it has been in existence. The 66 winners represent 38 states. Our Town awards grants to creative projects that contribute to communities and help make them “lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core.”