HealingNewtown Gets Support from National Arts Fund Grant

A fledgeling Newtown organization dedicated to healing through the arts has won a jumpstart from the nation's top arts fund.

The National Endowment of the Arts will provide a $30,000 grant for Newtown arts organization HealingNewtown, which members said would go toward hiring a full-time director. The announcement came Tuesday from Gov. Dannel Malloy, Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Elizabeth Esty and Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra.

"In the wake of a tragedy like Newtown, it can be difficult for us to convey our grief for those we lost and empathy for the victims and their loved ones – but art, in whatever form, gives us that voice when everyday communication falls short," Governor Malloy said. "In the six months that have passed since that terrible day, we have mourned deeply for the victims and looked for ways to heal while honoring their memory. This grant will help sustain HealingNewtown so that it can continue to be the link between the community and the creative outpouring of love, support and compassion from artists around the world."

Directed by the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, HealingNewtown was founded in the aftermath of the Dec. 14 shooting to bring healing and togetherness to the community through artwork, music, dance and crafts.

The organization maintains the thousands of letters and tokens of support sent to Newtown following the shooting, as well as a collection of hundreds of paintings and other artwork. For more, including HealingNewtown-hosted events, see their website or Facebook page.

HealingNewtown member Robert Rabinowitz told Patch the funds would go specifically toward hiring a full-time director to help the group realize its goals, including a hoped-for permanent home at Fairfield Hills someday.

"Our mission is so much bigger than it was before the tragedy," he said. "We're the caretakers of [the gifts and letters] that came into town, plus the roles we've taken on as an arts organization knowing how powerful arts are in improving people's lives. There's so much to do, and we need a full-time director."

The organization closed the doors of its Queen Street gallery in May after four months, but recently announced on Facebook it would relocate to rented offices and classrooms at Newtown Congregational Church, with a housewarming scheduled for July 12.

Alongside statements from Blumenthal, Murphy and Esty, First Selectman Pat Llodra thanked the NEA, Gov. Malloy and Newtown's congressional delegation for their efforts.

"The HealingNewtown art space has had a positive impact on our community and continues to provide programs that support resiliency and our path forward," she said. "The COA was instrumental in helping our CAC create this art space immediately after December 14th and continues to provide guidance. We are grateful for that expertise and commitment to our local arts efforts."