Westport, CT - The Westport Woman's Club will host a Community Arts Gala on May 17, 5-8pm. Open and free to the public, it celebrates underserved local artists of all ages. The event offers delicious food, drinks, artwork, fun and the presentation of two art scholarships, presented by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The Drew Friedman Community Arts Center “HeARTS Open Wide,” (a.k.a H.O.W.) is pleased to announce its first art show celebrating the creative works of budding local artists from CLASP Homes, Project Return, Homes with Hope, The Westport Arts Center and the Westport Historical Society. Nick Visconti, Chairman of the Drew Friedman Center for the Arts (DFCAC), believes that this gala event will also serve to further fuel and empower burgeoning artists as they are joined by the public in a night of art and awe. Miggs Burroughs, a long-time friend of Nick’s has been instrumental not only as a DFCAC board member but single handedly matched up local organizations with qualified art instructors to facilitate the foundations mission.
H.O.W is quickly becoming a recognized devotee to youth and the arts, receiving recognition by notable parties, which includes United States Senator Richard Blumenthal who hopes to present two DFCAC Scholarships at the gala; one in partnership with Westport Woman’s Club and the other in partnership with Westport Arts Center. This event will also include the introduction of the $1,000,000 DFCAC Fund earmarked to support art programs and scholarships for underserved artists of all ages, to be awarded over the next ten years. This evening includes music and wonderful culinary fare as long-time business partners, Nick Visconti and Drew Freidman jointly owned many local restaurants, and understand that celebrations always call for good food and fun. Bobbi, Drew and Nick wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Drew Friedman Center for the Arts, scholarships and programs have been established in memorial of Drew Friedman and to commemorate Mr. Friedman’s (deceased) wife Bobbie, a passionate artist who envisioned a haven for fee-free visual and performing art classes where underserved youth can build and experience creative expression. Over the last few months, this dream has become a reality as DFCAC has partnered with, and allocated funds to, local organizations to create and extend art programs to this pocket of 7-18-year-olds.
DFCAC also funds the Westport Woman’s Club’s art scholarship program. Applications for art scholarships ranging between $2500 to $7500 per student can be downloaded from the Westport Collective’s website at: westportartistscollective.com.