The Office of the Arts is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Dick Allen, a Trumbull resident who served as Connecticut’s Poet Laureate from 2010 – 2015. Mr. Allen served proudly as our state ambassador of poetry and was a regular in our office and at our events. He inspired us, he challenged us, and he consoled us with is wise and thoughtful words. Mr. Allen will always be remembered for his poem “A Simple Solemn Tribute to Sandy Hook”. He acknowledged the challenge of writing poetry in the face of tragedy. It was not uncommon for him take up to 30 years to write a poem and in most cases he would sit with a poem for 6 months to a year before sharing it with others. His poem commemorating the 9/11 tragedy took a number of years before Mr. Allen was able to find his natural voice and to express in writing his feelings and emotions of that day. As Poet Laureate we called upon him to share this poem at Connecticut’s 10 year commemorative ceremony at the Sherwood Island Living Memorial.   Mr. Allen was always at awe of the mini celebrity status that came with the “laureate” title, as if it possessed a little magic. And to all of us at the Connecticut Office of the Arts we feel we’ve been touched by this magic too. The opportunity to work with Dick Allen and all of our Poet Laureates is a great honor. Mr. Dick Allen will always be cherished by us and the arts community across the state.   Simple Solemn Tribute to Sandy Hook (reading by Dick Allen and “Solemn”composed by William Bolcom and performed by members of the St. Patrick/St. Anthony Church Gallery Choir)   CPTV interview with Dick Allen

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO EVALUATION This free step-by-step guide will help you (and your organization) become savvy evaluators of your work. Learn how to approach evaluation, track the impact of your investments and plan for the future. In this guide, created by W.K. Kellogg Foundation , you'll learn: How approach evaluation What methodologies to use and when Why community engagement and racial equity are key to the process How to share your finding

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2018 CONNECTICUT ARTS DAY SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 25, 2018 COA in partnership with the State's nine Regional Service Organizations and the Connecticut Arts Alliance will presents Connecticut Arts Day 2018 on April 25, 2018! Connecticut Arts Day celebrates Connecticut’s investment in and support of the arts and reaffirms the significant role the arts play in our state.  The day includes networking opportunities and a selection of workshops, performances, and interactive opportunities. The theme for 2018 will be Resiliency!  Connecticut Arts Day 2018 will take place in the Hartford area. Stay tuned for more details!

ATTENTION ALL CONNECTICUT SINGER-SONGWRITERS! We are currently accepting nominations for the position of Connecticut State Troubadour. The State Troubadour serves as an ambassador of music and song and promotes cultural literacy among residents. An individual singer-songwriter must be nominated and deemed eligible to apply. The deadline for nominations has been extended to Monday, February 5, 2018.

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NEED MONEY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? Are you an emerging or mid-career arts administrator who needs money for professional development? The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship provides $2,500 to art administrators so they may pursue professional development and other opportunities that will advance their careers. The FY18 Mahaffey Fellowship funding period is May 1, 2018 - April 30, 2019. The application deadline is Thursday, March 1, 2018. For more information, please contact Rhonda Olisky .

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K UDOS TO BONNIE KOBA AND AMY GOLDBAS! Our very own Arts in Education Program Manager Bonnie Koba, who serves as the Director of our Higher Order of Thinking (HOT) Schools program, and Amy Goldbas, Associate Director for Program Design for HOT Schools, will be honored with a Distinguished Art Advocate award at the Connecticut Art Education Association's awards banquet in April. The Connecticut Art Education Association's Distinguished Art Advocate award recognizes outstanding achievement and contributions in art education advocacy and is presented to individuals who work to support and improve art education and create a lasting impression on the future through visual arts education.  The Connecticut Art Education Association , Inc., a state affiliate of the National Art Education Association , is a professional organization which represents the art teachers of the state. Its goals include promoting visual arts as an essential component of educational programs, improving the conditions of teaching art, and sharing and encouraging effective teaching practices in art education.

CALLING CONNECTICUT AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS! The Connecticut Book Awards are back! The Connecticut Center for the Book at Connecticut Humanities is now accepting submissions for the Connecticut Book Awards! These awards recognize the best books of 2017 by authors and illustrators who reside in Connecticut. Categories include: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Young Readers. Entry fee starts at $40 for a 2,000 copy or less print run. Award winners will receive exposure in Connecticut media outlets and personal appearances in Connecticut locations.

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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS: FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Art Works The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has posted guidelines and application materials online for Art Works , the agency’s largest funding category. These grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000, and support artistically excellent projects that celebrate our creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required. Deadlines: 2/15/2018 & 7/12/2018 Save America's Treasures The National Park Service, in partnership with the NEA, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, recently announced availability of $5 million in grants for the Save America’s Treasures program . The Federal Save America's Treasures program began in 1999 and helps preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation's rich heritage to future generations of Americans. Deadline: 2/21/2018 Challenge America Guidelines and application materials for Challenge America grants are now available on the NEA’s website. These $10,000 matching grants support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required. Deadline: 4/12/2018

CONNECTICUT CULTURAL HERITAGE ARTS PROGRAM Passing it On: Traditional Arts Apprenticeships For over twenty years Connecticut’s Cultural Heritage Arts Program has participated in the Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. This program has supported more than 100 in-depth folk and traditional arts apprenticeships which pairs master teachers which qualified students. To celebrate this milestone, the work and stories of many of these artists will be on display at the Connecticut Historical Society’s current exhibit titled Passing It On: Traditional Arts Apprenticeships and will be on view from January 19, 2018 to March 10, 2018. A reception with the artists will take place at the Connecticut Historical Society on February 1, 2018 (snow date February 2) from 5:30 to 7 PM. Featured in the exhibit are three master teaching artists who were recipients of COA’s FY16 Artist Fellowship Program: Daniel Boucher, Paul Luniw, and Jampa Tsondue. The apprenticeship process encourages close interaction with a master teaching artist who transmits not only the artistic skills but also the stories, background, values, and cultural uses of the tradition. A great strength of the program is the regional partnership with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and independent folklorist Winifred Lambrecht in Rhode Island. Working regionally provides greater opportunities for our folk and traditional artists. The Connecticut Cultural Heritage Program (CCHAP) is Connecticut’s official Folk and Traditional Arts program. It is a program of the Connecticut Historical Society and works in partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Arts to support Connecticut’s vibrant cultural communities. Services offered by CCHAP receive support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD. The Connecticut Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth St., Hartford, is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 5, and Friday and Saturday from 9 to 5. For more information contact Lynne Williamson.

Connecticut's Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 with Randy Cohen Tour was a big success!   We would like to thank everyone who was able to attend the event, especially Randy Cohen and the panelist for delivering information regarding the art's involvement in our community. If you were not able to attend the event regarding the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 report, please check out the AEP5 website.