I have been following with interest the recent efforts in Madison to organize a cultural center in a former school building. The town has agreed to provide start up financial support for the project because it seems to believe that this will be an asset to the community. It will bring people to the enter of town and perhaps stimulate them to visit shops and restaurants. Young people might be interested in the artistic events that are available and might also help change the general perception that there is nothing there for them. The arts center will be a destination for locals and out-of-towners alike.

Madison seems to have come to the realization that the arts can have a powerful impact on the well-being of a community, both economically and by elevating the quality of life. Branford now has a similar, although less auspicious, opportunity. The newly formed Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance would like to organize activities that will enhance our opportunities to enjoy and appreciate all forms of artistic expression, from visual to musical to literary. We live in a community rich in history that’s also influenced by the dynamic cultural and artistic landscape of New Haven.

We would like to garner community support for a much smaller effort than the Madison project, a local arts center in the Academy on the Green. The Academy is an ideal venue for the kinds of small presentations that we hope to organize: small arts exhibits, intimate concerts, photography exhibits, poetry readings, and the like. These events will bring people to the center of town that might not otherwise be inclined to be there. The downtown merchants could realize some benefit from dinner and coffee patrons before and after the shows.

The Academy is virtually unused through the year. It is in very good condition and provides an ideal environment for intimate presentations. The Academy has the potential to become a destination point for our community as a center for interesting and enjoyable activities. We have so much local talent that is just waiting for opportunities to showcase what they can do. Why not use this historic site as a re-imagined arts center for our community? It seems to make perfect sense to do that. We intend to begin to plan activities there, but it would be wonderful to have the town and community behind this effort.

Frank Carrano, Chair, Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance