A Look at the Renovated Home of Southington Community Cultural Arts

SOUTHINGTON, CT —The new digs for Southington Community Cultural Arts is, as officials put it in the Web site posting, "open for business."

A certificate of occupancy has been issued for the Gura Building, SoCCA officials said.

Here is a history of the Gura Building renovations, as told by SoCCA:

In 2008, board members of Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) gathered Southington's various art organizations and art advocates to discuss the possibility of joining forces and forming a community arts center. The meetings produced an expansion of community cultural art programs, large scale mural installations and an annual art festival, Harvest the Arts, in which several local art organizations and those in surrounding towns currently collaborate.

As a result of this new awareness regarding the importance the arts have to the well being of a community, in 2011 community leaders, business people and residents suggested a vacated historical building located on Southington’s Town Green be saved and renovated for an Arts Center. State grants, private funding and donations for goods and services were garnered and the renovation was begun in November 2014.

All forms of the arts have been considered in the planning of the building. The first floor includes a gallery and small performance area, retail for artisan work and supplies, and a catering room. The second floor features a large workroom, five artist studios, a pottery room and a soundproof music room. Because the location of the building lends itself to optimum vehicle and pedestrian traffic, it will become a hub of cultural activity for Southington’s residents, visitors and downtown businesses. Southington Community Cultural Arts is open for business! Come see the exciting renovation and sign up today to become a member!

Photo CRedit: SoCCA