Honoring the 2025 ACE Award Recipients for their Commitment to Art and Culture in Fairfield County
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Norwalk Art Space 455 West Ave, Norwalk, CT
Presented by:
Cheryl R Williams, President
Kim Morque, Vice President
Cindy Vaccaro, Secretary
Holly Hotchner, Treasurer
Harold Bailey
Michel Moore
Bill Purcell
Patricia Rattray
Adger Cowans
Frederic Chiu
Mia Dillon
Keir Dullea
Jill Eikenberry
Helen During
Chris Frantz
Joanna Gleason
Lynne Meadow
James Naughton
Lissy Newman
Chris Sarandon
Stephen Schwartz
Michael Tucker
Tina Weymouth
Erika K Wesley, Executive Director
Marisa Govin, Administrative Assistant
DanielE.OffuttIII Arts&Culture EmpowermentAwards
Dear Friends,
June 17
Welcome to the Daniel E. Offutt III ACE Awards! We are happy to be back after a period of transition, and we are delighted that you have join us!
This year we are gathering in a new intimate format to honor the award recipients. We are excited to honor artist and sculptor James Grashow, Ramin Ganeshram, the Executive Director of Westport Museum for History and Culture; the Bruce Museum and Lifebridge Community Services. We thank them for their commitment to the cultural landscape of Fairfield County.
This year is special as we also recognize the award-winning actor Jim Naughton, who has done so much to help the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and for arts & culture in Fairfield County. Jim has been our Master of Ceremonies for many years and continues the tradition this year.
This is the first ACE Awards celebration under the leadership of CAFC Executive Director Erika Wesley Thanks to Erika and Marisa Govin for their work to make this event a success and for their commitment to the Cultural Alliance.
I would also like to thank The Daniel E. Offutt III Private Foundation Trust, The Norwalk Art Space, Marcia Selden Catering, M&T Bank, Cultural Champions Cindy and John Vacarro, and Michael Marraco; and all of the donors listed in the tribute book
Many thanks to our volunteers who are helping to make the evening successful and to the Board of Directors of CAFC for their guidance and continued support. Special thanks to this year’s ACE Awards Co-Chairs and CAFC Board members Holly Hotchner and Cindy Vaccaro. They have worked tirelessly to make the evening fun and special.
In these challenging times, supporting the arts and culture community remains crucial. Please consider making a donation today at https://culturalalliancefc.org/donate/.
Thank you for joining us at the ACE Awards. We look forward to working with you to support Fairfield County’s valuable arts and culture community throughout the year
Warm Regards,
Cheryl Williams CAFC Board President
Gary Cosgrave was a Westport Arts Center Honoree in 2012 and a supporter of The Cultural Alliance and Ace Awards for many years. As we honor the award recipients today, I am honored to be here in person along with Gary's spirit.
This ad is given by Dina Upton In memory of Gary Cosgrave
We honor David Green, former Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and his passion and advocacy for the arts David as a steadfast champion for our creative community. His leadership and vision strengthened the cultural landscape of our region. David's leadership as an arts and culture advocate and arts administrator reached artists, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and cultural institutions.
Dick Orenstein was a Trustee of the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust He was a benefactor to the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, the Westport Museum For History & Culture, the Weston History & Culture Center, La Chat Farm, Wilton Historical Society, Norwalk's Carver, and other local organizations Through his work, Dick facilitated the distribution of significant, life-changing funds for countless organizations in need Yet, in faithfully executing the trust, he said, he always got more than he gave.
“Their creativity lives on in the beauty they left behind.”
-the CAFC team and Board
O G R A M
Welcome Address
Cheryl WilliamS, CAFC President
Citizens Impact Award presentation
Jim Naughton
AWARD
CAFC Artist of the Year Award
Jim Grashow, Artist
The Community Accelerator Award
Ramin Ganeshram, Executive Director of Westport Museum for History and Culture
The Arts Education Leadership Award
Lifebridge in Bridgeport
The Beacon Impact Award
The Bruce Museum
Musical Performance
K.E.Y.S. Jazz Trio
Creative Pulse Appeal
Musical Performance
KEYS Jazz Trio
Closing Remarks
DanielE.OffuttIII Arts&Culture EmpowermentAwards
James "Jim" Naughton Actor and Philanthropist
The esteemed Citizens Impact Award will honor Actor and Philanthropist James "Jim" Naughton for his accomplishments and versatile actor whose remarkable career spans stage, screen, and television. A two-time Tony Award winner, Naughton has established himself as one of the most respected performers in American theater, bringing depth, charisma, and nuanced performances to every role he undertakes In addition to his extraordinary theatre film and television credits Jim proudly donates his time and talent to help raise awareness for Medical Aid in Dying/Compassion and Choices as well Pancreatic Cancer research and funds for related social and cultural causes
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Acclaimed artist Jimmy Grashow has been selected as the CAFC Artist of the Year for his transformative creative work as a local and national artist. Jimmy Grashow is an American sculptor and woodcut artist He is best known for his sculptures and largescale installations (such as cities, fountains, and menageries) made of cardboard Grashow also created cover art for record albums such as Jethro Tull's 1969 album Stand Up and the 1971 Yardbirds album Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page. This June, Grashow will premier JIMMY & THE DEMONS at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.
DanielE.OffuttIII Arts&Culture EmpowermentAwards
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich will receive the prestigious Beacon Impact Award for institutional excellence and community engagement The Bruce Museum recently completed the addition of a stunning new wing confirming the museum's commitment to the public, families, community groups and business community The new addition triples its space and adds galleries for art and science exhibitions. New public spaces include the Steven and Alexandra Swartzman education wing, auditorium, cafe, shop and sculpture garden.
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LifeBridge Community Services of Bridgeport will be recognized with the Arts Education Leadership Award for excellence in educational programming. Lifebridge Community Services has been Bridgeport's cornerstone social service organization for over 168 years. Their mission centers on partnering with youth, adults, and families to build resilience, improve well-being, and create pathways from crisis to stability through trauma-informed care and evidence-based programming.
This year Lifebridge launched the Community Mural Club, led by local artist Alicia Cobb, which invites Bridgeport middle and high school students interested in visual arts to learn teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving while fostering a sense of belonging
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Ramin Ganeshram, Executive Director of Westport Museum for History and Culture, will receive the Community Accelerator Award for outstanding leadership in cultural development. The Westport Museum for History and Culture provides a welcoming space that deepens the way museum goers understand the past.
Their award winning exhibit “Remembered” is the story of African American Westporters from earliest settlement to today.“Remembered” was recognized by the state of Connecticut but also nationally for its scholarship, excellence in design, and more importantly the efforts to uncover and memorialize the Black history of Westport.
Congratulations to all recipients!
Baywater Properties is a full-service commercial real estate company serving Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Westchester County, New York.
The Board of Directos and Staff of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County are grateful for the generous support of our donors:
Cultural Champions
Cindy and John Vaccaro
Michael Marocco
Advocates of the Arts
M&T Bank
Friends of the Arts
Anna Czekaj-Farber
Holly and Luke Hayden
Holly Hotchner
Kim Morque
Spinnaker Real Estate Partners
Dina Upton
Cheryl Williams
Media Partners
Hamlet Hub
CAFC serves as a Regional Service Organization (RSO) of the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA), and the leading arts and culture network for coastal Fairfield County. With a membership of nearly 600 artists and arts and cultural organizations from a 15-town region, we connect, inform, promote and advocate for the arts – TOGETHER
We support creative community life by:
We encourage members to connect, share, listen, and grow through Communities of Practice
These groups share common interests and week to enhance their skills and build knowledge together
It is through the process of sharing information and experiences that members learn from each other
We Value... Belonging Responsive Listening
Stewardship
Trustworthiness
C A F C : w h o w e a r e
It’s my connection with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County that gave me the ongoing confidence and trust in my work to comfortably –and proudly – be able to say that I’m an artist.
The CAFC network is an ever-expanding circle of of creatives and creative organizations, inviting you to explore new intersections and create partnerships CAFC gatherings are designed to extend your creative circle.
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Art isn’t just a free form of expression. It’s crucial to fostering creativity, community and educational development. What’s more, art benefits not only its creator, but its audience as well.
CAFC shines a spotlight on members with far-reaching marketing support, event promotion through FCBuzz event listing, exposure on our media and social platforms, and on our media partner sites
CAFC connects its member artists and organizations with new and expanding audiences through our media partnerships, e-communications and various social media channels:
“The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community—strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically.” – Americans for the Arts.
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CAFC listens and amplifies the voices of cultural organizations and artists, demonstrating how arts and culture contribute to quality of life and economic sustainability in the region CAFC provides a unified voice for the arts and culture sector of Fairfield County on a local, state, and national level. We keep our membership and arts and cultural trustees around the county apprised of important issues and calls to action
CAFC shares professional, funding, job & other opportunities as well as professional development offerings Discussion, mutual learning, & shared experiences are at the heart of the network. Each year, CAFC schedules a series of topical workshops, convenings, meetings, and roundtables designed to support organizations and artists In addition, we host on-going programs through Communities of Practice in order to foster cooperation and innovation among the constituencies we serve Our three newsletters keep our members up-to-date on local, regional, and national news.
Interested in supporting our work?
We extend our deepest gratitude to Holly Hotchner and Cindy Vaccaro, our ACE Awards Co-chairs, and Cheryl Williams, our Board President, for their tireless dedication and visionary leadership as members of our event committee Their countless hours of planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in bringing this celebration to life From coordinating logistics to nurturing community partnerships, Holly, Cindy, and Cheryl have gone above and beyond at every turn, ensuring that tonight’s ACE Awards will both honor our region’s creative talent and inspire us all We are profoundly grateful for their passion, expertise, and steadfast support
Erika Wesley and Marisa Govin
Tune in to Spotlight on Arts & Culture, the official CAFC radio show on WPKN! Join us on the 2 Monday of every month as we spotlight local artists, explore groundbreaking exhibits, and dive deep into the stories shaping Fairfield County’s creative community Listen live or catch all episodes on demand at wpkn.org/wpkn-programming/spotlight-on-artsculture Don’t miss your backstage pass to the pulse of our region’s arts scene!
C A F C : S p o t l i g h t o n A r t s a n d C u l t u r e
Thank you for joining us!
Art. Culture. Community. Commerce.