Turns out that storefront art galleries can help communities in more ways than expanding cultural horizons or reviving urban centers. They can also be used to help the healing process for communities struck by tragedy.
We reported last week on the way Connecticut state officials are trying to capitalize on the storefront movement for economic purposes. In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, Newtown is hoping a storefront gallery in the center of the community can offer kids and adults a place to enjoy the healing art can bring.
Here is some information about the gallery from the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission:
HealingNewtown Art Space is located on 5 Queen Street, Newtown - this is a temporary home base to house the HealingNewtown Project and a safe, happy meeting place for children and families during the long process of healing. The ample space is used to field calls related to arts and culture in Newtown, organize creative contributions that continues to be offered; facilitate donated arts programs & workshops geared toward arts healing. Community members are welcome! It is a co-work space for all people working on healing through the arts and a place for parents to meet over a cup of coffee and to get online. Plenty of room to display a gallery of visual artworks from around the state and around the country.
