Resident Honored With CCT Fellowship

HARTFORD — Bruce Jacoby of Newtown was one of 34 artists from across Connecticut named on January 23 as recipients of fellowships from The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT). The fellowships will support artistic development and enable the artists to devote substantial time to the creation of new work. Grants in the amounts of $5,000 and $2,500 were awarded in the categories of choreography, fiction, film/video, music composition, playwriting and poetry. Mr Jacoby received a $2,500 fellowship for playwriting.

“The Commission on Culture & Tourism is firmly committed to furthering the professional development of individual artists,” said An-Ming Truxes, director of CCT’s Arts Division. “Artists are at the core of the rich cultural heritage of Connecticut and make notable contributions to their communities. Supporting artists in the creation of exciting new work ultimately benefits everyone.”

CCT received 227 fellowship applications for the 2007 awards. Panels of experts in their respective fields reviewed the applications during the highly competitive process.

Panelists for playwriting were Michael McGuire, a former Commission on Culture & Tourism fellowship recipient and playwright; William Moulton, a composer and lyricist and associate arts professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University; and Nehassaiu deGannes, an award-winning poet, playwright and actress, and faculty member of Rhode Island College.

The Artist Fellowship program awards grants on an alternating annual basis. Next year, CCT will recognize artists in the visual arts disciplines. Application forms will be available from the Commission on Culture & Tourism this summer. The tentative deadline is September 30.

The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism brings together tourism, film, history and the arts. Its mission is to preserve and promote Connecticut’s cultural and tourism assets in order to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of the state. The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism is located at One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street in Hartford. For more information, visit CultureAndTourism.org.