September 19, 2024
Overland Park, KS - This October, Johnson County Community College will travel to Bridgeport, Connecticut, the epicenter of a groundbreaking national event as community college art museum and gallery leaders from across the country gather for the first-ever "Art for All: Connecting Campus and Community" summit. Hosted by the Housatonic Museum of Art, this event will bring together representatives from community colleges spanning from California to Alabama, showcasing the collective impact of these institutions on students, the creative sector, and regional development.
"Art for All" will take place on October 10 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at CT State Housatonic’s Events Center in Beacon Hall. This free, public event will feature a dynamic panel discussion with subject matter experts covering essential topics such as art collections, exhibitions, and student engagement. The event will be accessible both in-person and via live stream, ensuring participation from across the nation.
The discussion is the culmination of a two-day event titled "Community College Art Museum Leadership Convening," which will host over a dozen leaders in the field gathering at CT State Housatonic. While these sessions are closed to the public, the insights and strategies developed will be shared during the public panel and via live stream, underscoring the importance of collaboration and advocacy in supporting community college art spaces.
JoAnne Northrup, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, in Overland Park, Kansas, offered, “Our college and art museum are proud to be part of this gathering in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the collective insights and experiences of community college art leaders will come together in hopes of shaping the future of our institutions. I’m looking forward to forging new pathways for collaboration and advocacy. 'Art for All' really amplifies the vital role that community college art museums and galleries play in enriching the educational experience and fostering a deeper connection between our campuses and the communities we serve.”
"We are thrilled to come together at the Housatonic Museum of Art for the first time under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Reynolds-Kaye,” said Craig Hadley, Executive Director & Chief Curator Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College. “The scope and scale of community college museums is relatively unknown within our field, and we hope to clarify our discipline and build a strong cohort of colleagues this fall."
“This summit highlights the powerful role that community college art museums and galleries play, not only on their campuses, but also in their communities,” said Dr. Jennifer Reynolds-Kaye, Director of the Housatonic Museum of Art. “We are thrilled to welcome leaders from coast to coast to our campus here in Bridgeport as we collectively advocate for the creative contributions in higher education.”
Funded by the Terra Foundation for American Art and supported by the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and Connecticut Humanities, the Association of Academic Museums & Galleries, and with additional private support, this landmark event argues for the critical role that art museums and galleries play at community colleges. “By hosting this landmark event in Bridgeport, we aim to not only showcase the critical work being done in community college art museums, but also to foster future collaborations and initiatives that will resonate nationwide,” added Dr. Reynolds-Kaye.
Learn more and obtain free registration or streaming access for "Art for All.”
About Housatonic Museum of Art
Located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the Housatonic Museum of Art is committed to enriching the cultural life of its community through dynamic exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach. As an educational resource, the museum serves Housatonic Community College and beyond, promoting the transformative power of art. For more information, visit housatonicmuseum.org.
About the Terra Foundation for American Art
The Terra Foundation for American Art, established in 1978 and having offices in Chicago and Paris, supports organizations and individuals locally and globally with the aim of fostering intercultural dialogues and encouraging transformative practices that expand narratives of American art, through the foundation’s grant program, collection, and initiatives. For more information, visit terraamericanart.org.
About Connecticut Humanities
Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.
About the Connecticut Office of the Arts
Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the arts-focused office of CT’s Department of Economic and Community Development. Our goal is to inspire, empower, educate, and transform. We believe the arts are a human right, and we envision a world where the arts, in all forms, are embedded in everyday life. Learn more about COA.
About The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) serves as a cultural leader, facilitating deeper understanding of our world and contemporary issues through their exhibitions and permanent collection. The collection focuses on international, national, and regional contemporary artists, with an emphasis on diverse practitioners and educational access. In addition to gallery spaces within the Nerman Museum, over 300 works from the collection are installed across campus, integrating art into the daily lives of the JCCC campus community as well as greater Kansas City area residents and visitors. For more information, visit nermanmuseum.org
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