Grant Funding Bringing New Arts Opportunities to Southington

The following was submitted by Dawn Miceli on behalf of Southington Community Cultural Arts.

Southington Community Cultural Arts received a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain to fund a 3-D chalk artist at Harvest the Arts 2013.

Nationally known chalk artist Sean Fitzpatrick created a one-of-a-kind shark design on Center Street that festival-goers enjoyed standing near in order to have their pictures taken. Because of the 3-D effect, it appeared as though the shark was rising from the water to take a bite of the bystander.

Harvest the Arts took place October 11-13 during the 45th annual Apple Harvest Festival. Enlisting the creativity of a chalk artist was a new pursuit for Mary DeCroce, Southington Community Cultural Arts chairman.

“I wanted to offer the public something new this year and have always wanted to showcase a chalk artist because of the venue itself and its location downtown,” said DeCroce. “People really enjoyed watching the creative process and were amazed at the fact that the artist used chalk as his medium.”

Southington Community Cultural Arts strives through the arts to create a unique environment in which people of all ages, abilities and experience can feel free to imagine, create, exhibit and welcome the arts into their lives. Currently, the SCCA is involved in a capital campaign to raise funds to renovate the historic Gura Building on Main Street. 

A community cultural arts center will provide unique and meaningful arts programming for all ages and give local artists a venue to exhibit and sell their work.  Its placement in the community will also foster an economic impact for downtown Southington and will make the town a destination for visitors. 

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