HealingNewtown Appoints New Director

The following is a press release from HealingNewtown.

Saying she hopes to create programs that are multi-generational, Valerie Culbertson began her first days of work as the new Director of HealingNewtown reviewing all the wonderful artists who donated their time in the past to lead workshops and performances. The year-long director position has been funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

HealingNewtown, created in the aftermath of the December 14th tragedy, was developed by the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC) in conjunction with a team of local, regional and state arts leaders. The project is now fully managed by the NCAC and housed at the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown. It offers workshops, art programs and events meant to strengthen and heal the Newtown Community. (Access HealingNewtown.org to register for workshops.)

Valerie is a native of Connecticut, having grown up in Derby and remembers her maternal grandfather and Sheppard Hardware in Newtown and her uncle Frank Kelley, who lived in Sandy Hook. She holds a BS degree from the University of Connecticut and an MFA (Masters of Fine Art) from the University of Hartford/Hartford Art School. She has two children, a daughter, Leah Gladstone, a pediatric RN at Yale, and a son, Calder, a college student.

She currently mentors students in drawing and painting in public and private schools and organizations and was the director of the Gallery at the Silo in New Milford.

Looking at the past workshops, Valerie plans to enhance playwriting and experiences with playwrights and hopes to create workshops that stress collegiality and a participatory atmosphere. She counts more workshops in music and song writing as one of her goals and wants to build a structure that will evolve organically as the needs of the community change. She also hopes to create workshops that will attract high school students and, has, in the past, run workshops that stress professional practices for prospective artists.

The public can meet Valerie Sunday,December 22, from 2-6pm, at The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission and HealingNewtown 2013 Holiday Party. It will be at the Alexandria Room at Town Hall and feature arts, crafts, music, dance and performances. Major sponsor is Urgent Care of CT.