From the South End to Worldwide

Submitted by Susan Collins, The Art Connection

The Art Connection has always been excited to move forward with our founder Fay Chandler's mission of spreading access to art. One way we continue to keep a cycle of sharing and learning best practices for that work is through our bi-annual Expansion Summit, which gathers grant recipients from The Fay Slover Fund at The Boston Foundation. While the grantees come from places like Kentucky, New York, Seattle, Chicago, and even Italy, everyone was able to convene in the South End at Castle Square Tenants Organization on Friday, May 19, to talk about ways to keep art accessible, especially for those who lack resources in under-served communities.

In addition to being one of the most beloved partners and neighbors, Castle Square Tenants Organization has been a recipient of two placements for over 38 works of art from The Art Connection. One of the highlights of having them host the 2017 Expansion Summit was allowing attendees to tour their facilities with their staff Debbie Campbell and Irene Chan. Attendees were also able to tour Tufts Medical Center's Mammography Department, where one of the grantees, Healing Photo Arts has placed colorful nature photography to uplift the spirits of all who inhabit the space. This group places photographs in hospitals around the world.
To round out the perspectives present, local art donors Prilla Smith Brackett and Maria Termini shared their experiences as artists and touched upon the gratitude felt when they experience the positivity their art infuses into social service agencies. After a full day of sharing the triumphs and challenges of collaboration, systems, and fundraising to sustain arts access, there was an opportunity to cut loose at an after party, hosted by The Art Connection Board Member Susan Bradley. Overall, we look forward to seeing the fruits of this gathering at out next Expansion Summit!
2017 Summit Participants:
Fay Slover Fund at The Boston Foundation Grantees
Stuart Anthony, Art Connects New York
Alpine Bird, Board Member, The Art Connection in the Capital Region
Julie Cavnor, Executive Director, The Art Connection in the Capital Region
Wendy Ingram, The Art Connection in Rhode Island
Ingrid Parker, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Elaine Poggi, Healing Photo Arts, St. Louis and Florence, Italy
Holly Jacobson, Path with Art, Seattle
Nathan Zamarron, LexArts, Lexington, KY
Juliana Muniz, Flower City Arts, Rochester, NY
Katherine French, Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury, VT
Gail Flynn, Catamount Arts Advisory Board

Expansion Committee Members (act as advisors to The Fay Slover Fund at The Boston Foundation)
Cara Bird, representing the Chandler family (morning through lunch/1:30 PM))
Hilly Ebling, Committee Chair (morning until noon only)
Michael Rousseau, The Art Connection Board Chair (morning through 12:30 PM)
Chanel Thervil, Program Manager, The Art Connection
Susan Collings, Executive Director, The Art Connection


Links to info on current grant recipients attending:
http://www.theartconnection.org/expansion/sites/