Regional Collaboration Featured at National Arts Annual Convention

The Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will be featured at the national Americans for the Arts 2020 Annual Convention and Public Art & Civic Design Conference.  The Coalition's Executive Director Wendy Bury and the Chamber's President and CEO Tony Sheridan will co-present at a session highlighting the agencies' collaboration as part of the three-day virtual convention from June 23-25. 

The session, Partnering with Chambers of Commerce on Road to Re-Opening and Recovery, will take place on Tuesday, June 23 from 4:15 to 5pm EST.  The session is described as: Chambers of Commerce and other business-centric organizations are working on overdrive to jump start their economies following the shutdowns of COVID-19. We know that the arts are essential to thriving communities and are important partners in developing vibrant places to live and work. In this session, hear examples of partnerships and solutions between arts groups, agencies, and chambers of commerce, and learn how to have these conversations in your community.

Bury and Sheridan have worked together on numerous regional and statewide efforts, including the Governor's Transition Arts, Culture & Tourism Policy Committee and both have been selected as Regional Long Term Recovery Committee Steering Committee members (Region 4), which is managed by the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) and part of CTRecovers. (https://portal.ct.gov/ctrecovers)

The Cultural Coalition and Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT have collaborated for years and in 2019 began an annual partnership agreement to increase collaboration and benefit the constituencies served with a shared focus on arts, culture and tourism. From co-hosting and collaborating on events, including a joint Culture Connects & Business After Hours, to the Cultural Coalition presenting arts & culture awards at the Chamber's annual meeting, the regional agencies work to increase both organizations' positive impact on the businesses and residents of the region. The multi-agency Calendar of Regional Events, known as C.O.R.E., was spearheaded and currently overseen by the two agencies.

For more than 50 years, Americans for the Arts has been convening an annual convention for arts and community leaders to network and discuss strategies for building stronger towns, counties, and cities through the arts. The convention was originally scheduled to be held in Washington D.C. but transformed to a virtual event due to covid-19. More information about the conference can be found at https://artsu.americansforthearts.org/acpacd

About Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition
The Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, mission is to improve the economy, vitality and quality of life in Southeastern Connecticut by supporting the arts, cultural and creative community.