Hartford Focuses On Their Youth

The Executive Director of the National Arts Program had a chance to visit Community Renewal Team (CRT) and see first hand just what this wonderful organization is accomplishing. One of their biggest projects each year is coordinating the City of Hartford’s National Arts Program Exhibit. In its 28th year, coordinator Ilana Bernstein says that they have renewed their commitment to offering this exhibition for many years to come.
On Saturday, March 9th, CRT hosted an awards ceremony and reception for the 2019 National Arts Program at Capital Community College in downtown Hartford. For this annual event, artists of all ages had the opportunity to share their work in this public gallery-style setting. In total, 215 pieces of art were submitted to the show this year. They were joined that day by up-and-coming performers including the Mariachi Academy of New England, singer Aja Wilson, and the guest Emcee for the day, Joan Dylan, an on-air DJ with WRCH Lite 100.5 FM.
New this year, CRT offered an additional category called “Teens Looking Out for Teens” for their show, in which individuals or groups of teens could submit a piece of art that evokes a greater understanding of the social issues affecting teens. 
The Community Renewal Team presented this wonderful opportunity for teens this year to help them learn and express their feelings about the many issues they face. Introducing this theme was a way of reaching more people in the community and an effort to expand awareness of CRT’s programs and services they offer. 
The NAP is grateful to Ilana and the entire Community Renewal Team for their dedication to  this annual exhibition.