The Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance or HVCA is a regional organization based in Danbury CT that connects and strengthen the arts to enrich our community.  Our goal is to provide cultural leadership within our service area that covers 10-towns in the Greater Danbury area. We are a small but fast growing organization that gets its support from the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism and Fairfield County Community Foundation. HVCA is also supported by the community, particularly from  its members, committed volunteers, dedicated Board of Directors, sponsors, and contributors.  HVCA is a 501C-3 non-profit group.

Our Focus

Our primary focus is to advocate, support, and promote the work of creative resources, such as artists of all disciplines and other creative professionals and arts, history, and cultural organizations large and small.  HVCA works to increase awareness of the enormous resources available and to provide quality programs and services to meet their unique needs. We frequently partner with business and community leaders to leverage resources and accomplish important goals. The general public benefits through our online Its All Right Here! Regional Cultural Calendar.  All in all, HVCA is positioning to be a critical resource related to arts and culture in Northern Fairfield County and southern parts of the Litchfield Hills

History

In March 2004, a survey (the Housatonic Valley Cultural Assessment) was undertaken to learn as much as possible about the arts and cultural organizations and activity in the ten-town Housatonic Valley region. The assessment identified organizations, businesses, artists, musicians and other creative individuals as well as revealed the opportunities, challenges and needs facing the communities of Danbury, Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman.

The final report was issued in December of 2004 with a recommendation that a regional creative alliance be established to serve the creative and cultural resources and individuals of the Housatonic Valley. Following the issuance of the final report, the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance was formed in early 2005 by a group of community activists with the aid of a small grant from the state, Initially formed as a steering committee, the volunteer interim Board of Directors was comprised of at least one representatives from each of the ten towns in the region, as well as representatives from the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, and Western Connecticut State University.  The Board is still made up of this same representation.

Between 2005 and early 2007, the board developed its by-laws and other documents to incorporate as a non-profit and piloted its new website.  Since its incorporation in August 2007, HVCA developed a 3-year strategic focus to include; increase marketing and promotion services; convene constituents in discipline/industry round tables; provide technical assistance and arts management training.  There have been many accomplishments, including: an online Regional Cultural Calendar; creating a website portal of arts/culture related news and information, ongoing development of a regional database of creative resources, marketing projects, the “Business Support the Arts” Awards Breakfast and the Spring Arts Celebration, City Hall Exhibit: Art on the Walls, and more.  The Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance maintains an office in the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. It is staffed by a part-time Executive Director.

Mission

The mission of the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance (HVCA) is to support and strengthen the arts, historical and cultural organizations and individuals through collaboration and coordination to further economic development in the ten-town Housatonic Valley.