Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County- Spotlight on Arts & Culture |The Arts & Preservation by WPKN Community Radio published on 2023-05-22T21:12:57Z HOST: David Green The arts bring renewed vitality, energy, engagement and economic stimulus to our communities. The arts especially can breathe new life into old buildings when they are smartly and sensitively restored. This month we look at the journey that two groups took in finding the right space for their arts organization, how they redeveloped the buildings they found, and what the impact has been. The Norwalk Art Space opened in June 2021 and greeted 14,000 visitors in its first year. Metro Art Studios in Bridgeport opened in November 2021. Both buildings won Awards of Merit from PreservationCT in 2022. In addition, we look at a building that is currently being restored and renovated for use as an art space: The Granite Church in Redding. Guests: Jane Davila, Executive Director, Metro Art Studios Robin Panovka, The Norwalk Art Space Richard Wenning, Executive Director, Be Foundation, Co-founder at SpreadMusicNow & Granite Church Christopher Wigren, Deputy Director, Preservation Connecticut