We are thrilled to celebrate several Arts & Culture Collaborative (ACC) members and arts community leaders who successfully completed the Evolve x Empower Program and earned funding to advance their creative work.
Led by the Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Empower x Evolve Program is designed to support artists and arts organizations as they transform bold ideas into sustainable, real-world impact. Through a combination of business development training, equity-centered learning, mentorship and peer connection, participants gain the tools they need to strengthen their practice and expand their reach within the creative economy.
Eleven participants were selected from three regions in the western portion of the state, four of whom were from our Waterbury area. The program was facilitated by the AIR Collaborative, an organization with a mission to empower communities to co-create real-world solutions by combining inclusive collaboration, creative tools, and local leadership. After 10 sessions during the year, the participants refined their ventures, developed compelling pitches, and presented their work before a panel of judges at a special event in December. The result: well-deserved grant awards to help bring their visions to life and deepen their impact in our communities.
We are incredibly proud of our members for their dedication, creativity and leadership. This was an inspiring event—and an even greater win for arts and culture across our region. We look forward to following their journeys as they continue to create, innovate and uplift our creative ecosystem!
Evolve Program Award Recipients from our region:
Katiana Smith — SURGE Arts Initiative — $7,500 Award
Shelby Davis — City Youth Theatre — $2,500 Award
ShawnaLee Kwashnak — Gleanings by the Way – An Artist’s Journey…Into a Forgotten Journal — $2,500 Award
Cinthia Cabrera —Polanco & Cabrera Foundation — $2,500 Award
Congratulations to all—your work makes our creative community stronger!
