| 12/05/2004 |
| Residents get sneak peek at arts center |
| By SZYMON TWAROG , The Herald Press |
MIDDLETOWN -- After seven years of hard work, the Green Street Arts Center opened it’s doors -- even if just for a little while -- giving everyone a sneak peak on Saturday.
"For me to be able to be here and help all those people, that have been involved with this since the beginning, get to this point, it just gives me chills," said Ricardo Morris, director of the center. "To see their faces, it makes it all worth it."
"It’s just wonderful. It’s about time the city had something like this to offer," said Alvenis Riddick. "I’ve been reading about it getting really excited, then I got the brochure and I got more excited and now I get to see it." Riddick said she is not sure what she likes best about the center, but is just glad to have it in town. The center had already launched a series of pilot classes, workshops and performances since 2002. But now, with the building almost complete, those that had a taste before can not wait to see what comes next. "I’m so happy to see it here. They have such beautiful spaces here," said Allison Plous, whose daughter has already been taking part in a dance class for infants. An artist herself, Plous knows the importance of having a proper space and motivation to get your work done and believes the center will easily accomplish that. "We walk through this building and it’s just inspiring," said Plous. "Artists need a place like this to express themselves." A collaboration between Wesleyan University, the North End Action Team, the city, Macdonough School, Church of the Holy Trinity, Community Health Center as well as other community partners, NEAT is hoping the building will be the center of a community renaissance in the North End. "The center is a place where families can come and be creative. In an area where they didn’t know they could feel that way," said Izzi Greenberg, a community organizer for NEAT. Seeing the center opened to the public, Greenberg hopes neighborhood residents can now physically see the fruits of their labor. "For the last one and a half years, we have been telling people wait till the center comes," said Greenberg. "We kept telling them how great it is going to be and now I don’t need to do that anymore cause it’s here and they can see it for themselves." Once open, the facility will offer a fully-equipped sound/recording, videography, digital photography, writing and graphic arts lab. It will also feature two visual arts studios, a dance studio and a performance studio with a seating capacity of 100. More than 30 classes will be offered including Playwriting, Videography, Afro-Caribbean Doll Making and a Grandparents and Grandchildren Multimedia Blitz. Participation at the center is open to everyone in the region and tuition assistance is available to those that qualify. To receive a spring catalogue or more information about the Green Street Arts Center, call 860-685-7871 or visit www.greenstreetartscenter.org. To contact Szymon Twarog, call (860) 347-3331 Ext. 220.
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