I’m thrilled to announce that Easthampton City Arts is about to enter our 15th year of generating arts and culture in Easthampton. To launch this commemorative year, we’re having a celebration called Art Is a Gift on Thursday December 12 from 6-9pm at Old Town Hall. *Please note: this is not our annual fundraiser — instead, we’re partnering with our friends at Big Red Frame & Art in the Orchard to gather together to celebrate arts, culture, and our amazing community of volunteers.

We look forward to celebrating with you – and there is much to celebrate. It is a rich and vital time in the City of Easthampton and the community of arts and culture is more integrated — throughout our business districts, educational establishments, and natural environments — than ever before. This collective effort has been building for generations and it is the direct result of the generous vision, hearts, and muscle of individuals just like you. In fact, at ECA in 2019 alone more than 100 individuals collectively contributed more than 1,200 volunteer hours through committee work, gallery sitting, and by bringing our events and festivals to life!

This special Art Is a Gift celebration will also serve to introduce ECA’s newest public art initiative, which will be to create a public sculpture to honor this impressive history and legacy of volunteerism in the community of arts and culture in Easthampton. The City’s newest sculpture will also be created in loving memory of Debra Tautznik and Denise Herzog. Proceeds from ECA’s Small Works show and the Elusie Gallery’s Art Is a Gift exhibition will begin a seed fund for this initiative and we’ll continue fundraising for the public sculpture throughout 2020. Many more details to come!

And, in the spirit celebrating arts, culture, and volunteering, the team from Art In the Orchard will be presenting the artist awards for the 5th Annual Art in the Orchard exhibition, CitySpace will be giving tours of the second floor of Old Town Hall, and ECA will be presenting the Debra Tautznik Volunteer Award and the Pioneer Valley Buzz Award. We’ll also be providing food, refreshments, live music, and a fabulous DJ to boot – stay tuned for more details!

Thank you all for your incredible efforts and we look forward to seeing you soon!

With art and heart,