On October 12th the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut held their Annual Business Supports the Arts Awards Breakfast at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. “We were honored to recognize the outstanding achievements of awardees this year. They demonstrate excellence in the arts. Their creativity, passion and skill enrich our culture and inspire us all,” says Lisa Scails, Executive Director, Cultural Alliance.
Among those honored was Dee Dee Colabella, who was awarded the Arts in the Community Award for her contributions to the arts and culture in Ridgefield, as well as her role as an entrepreneur and business leader. Colabella is the owner of 068 Magazine, RPAC Art Center and Academy, RPAC Gallery, D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery, and is the founder of the non-profit ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative.
Colabella has been dedicated to expanding the visual arts community making it an important part of the arts culture in Ridgefield and the surrounding communities. “Thanks to all the artists I work with and the ArtFul Board members. I can’t believe how much we have accomplished and there’s still more to come,” says Colabella.
Also honored that morning was Olga Meija of Danbury, who received the Mary Rindfleisch Heart of Arts Award, Wendy Cahill, owner of Molten Java in Bethel, who received the Arts Impact Life Award, and the Danbury Fair Mall for the BSA Award.
ABOUT COLABELLA
In 2019, Dee Dee Colabella opened her first business that focused on the visual arts - the RPAC Art Center and Academy, which serves professional artists and students. Colabella envisioned a place where artists could have access to continuing education, private and semi-private studio spaces, and a gallery storefront to sell their work.
RPAC offers a fun and creative environment that allows artists and students alike a place to express their creativity. Students learn from talented instructors with years of real-world experience while working in a space surrounded by professional artists. This kind of learning environment gives students quality guidance and instruction that helps them grow immensely as future artists and designers.
RPAC Gallery was Colabella’s next venture. RPAC Gallery provides the space to showcase the artists and allow them the opportunity to sell and build their exhibition resume. RPAC Gallery has been open since September 2019 and has showcased over 45 artist including resident and visiting artists.
When there became a need to showcase solo shows or smaller group shows, Colabella opened D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery to carefully curate shows to accommodate the solo artist and showcase their full collections.
In addition, Colabella saw the need to advertise and promote the overall art scene in Ridgefield and the surrounding 068 zip codes and was fortunate enough to acquire the Ridgefield and Wilton Magazines which she rebranded as 068 Magazine. The publication is now distributed in Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton, but promotes businesses from all 068 zip codes.
Finally, in 2020, she founded and became president of the board for ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative. ArtFul is a 501c3 nonprofit which is a non-profit, community-based initiative, that supports opportunities for working and aspiring artists. ArtFul is committed to providing subsidies for enriching art education to our community and supporting local as well as national organizations that align with our main principles. Since its inception, ArtFul has provided $120,000.00 in Artist Grants and Student Scholarships, along with promoting the successful Bow WOW Art Dogs Public Art Event in Ridgefield, CT.
For more information, please visit rpacartcenter.com, rpacgallery.com, dcolabellafineart.com, 068magazine.com, or artful-gives.org
The Cultural Alliance connects with and provides support for artists, creative entrepreneurs, and arts and cultural organizations. They strive to ensure the continued representation of diversity and equity.
For more information, please visit cawct.org