Eastern Connecticut State University Getting State Arts Grant

WILLIMANTIC, CT - Eastern Connecticut State University is getting a $10,000 state arts grant.

The grant is part of the state's Arts & Community Impact Grant Program, which funds projects that create or sustain a meaningful relationship with non-arts stakeholders to effectively connect the intrinsic value of the arts to identifiable community needs, interests or opportunities.

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Gail Gelburd, professor of contemporary art and museum studies at ECSU, working with Windham Director of Economic Development, Jim Bellano, as well as three important Willimantic projects - Whitewater Park, Horizons, and the Kerri Gallery - will bring together residents and artists in the community to transform and revitalize a mile of historic downtown Willimantic streets, sidewalks, building facades, and empty store fronts into "an engaging public art exhibition," state officials said.

Murals, chalk art, performance work, installations, projections and videos will be submitted by artists throughout the state and juried by art professionals for the project, state officials said.