Donate
When was the last time you saw a piece of artwork that inspired you? That moved you? If you are like most of us, you don’t have time to run into the city for the latest museum exhibit. Fortunately the Farmington Valley Arts Center (FVAC) is in your own backyard, just waiting to inspire you – to move you! Founded in 1974, the FVAC is a not for profit organization – a beautiful resource that offers individuals and families a place to see the latest works of art from more than 70 local, regional and national artists year round in a warm and caring environment. We exist to serve our community by promoting creativity through exhibits, special events and unique educational programming, making our neighborhood a better place to live.
We ask for your support of this valuable community asset. Your donation is extremely important to as it provides resources that make an immediate impact – from supporting our artist in residence program, to sponsoring school group visits to helping to keep our lights on.
Volunteer
• Gallery volunteers to greet customers and handle retail sales
• Volunteers with skills to tackle small site maintenance projects
• Talented, well-connected community members to serve on our Board of Directors
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Board of Directors 2017
Helen Thomas (Vice President) has lived in Avon for over 20 years and served on the Board of Trustees at The Cobb School, Montessori for over ten years. She enjoys art and is a student at the Farmington Valley Arts Center. Besides art, Helen enjoys making fabric handbags, ballroom dancing and watching baseball.
Linda Howard Sorrell (Treasurer) is an exiled Scot, and now US citizen, who has lived in the Farmington Valley with her family for over 20 years. After retiring from her career as a Human Resources Executive with several global companies, Linda has become involved with the Boards of several local not for profit organizations. Her particular interest is in ensuring that the FVAC can realize its full potential to become a true leader in the Arts.
Clasina Jones (Secretary) currently serves on the FVAC Board as Secretary and Social Media Committee Chair. She works as a Development Assistant for Operation Fuel, a statewide non-profit that provides home energy assistance for Connecticut households in need, and previously worked as a marketing manager with a focus on social media and blogging. Clasina started taking classes at FVAC in 2012 with a focus on oil painting and recently began exploring jewelry making.
Maureen Berescik recently retired from serving as Arts Coordinator of a school district in Fairfield County. She is the Immediate Past President of CAAA, (CT Arts Administrators Association) and Fine Arts Chair of CAS (CT Association of Schools) in addition to being a Board Director for the CT Alliance for Arts Education, a partner with the Kennedy Center. Honored with the Rosemary Cellini Outstanding Service to the Profession by the CT Art Education Association (CAEA), Maureen is actively involved in exhibiting student artwork within Connecticut. Starting as a studio artist at the Farmington Valley Arts Center many years ago, Maureen is thrilled to be back serving on the Board.
Nine Dechamps Nine’s passion for the arts began in theater. In her pre-children and pre-America life, she was Assistant to Artistic Director Peter Zadek at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, Germany (“the hands-down best job anyone could ever have!”) When she moved to the States, Nine was able to continue her love for theater with the Acts Factory Players. There she directed plays, designed and built sets and tried her hand at costume designing. She also served for two years on the Board of New Britain's Hole in the Wall Theater. Nine is very excited to become part of FVAC and hopes to help support and nurture this beautiful art community.
Carol Kaplan shares a studio at FVAC with her husband Steve and is also a retired public school art teacher. In addition to a teaching career, Carol has owned her own business and run a variety of art programs in the Farmington Valley. Carol's artwork repurposes found objects into sculpture, and as chair of the Education Committee she has repurposed Studio 4A into a second classroom targeted for youth programming.
Chinmay Kommuru has lived in Connecticut for over 15 years. With a broad business background, he currently helps build business strategies for a global health services organization. He is passionate about giving back to the community and is committed to making the Farmington Valley Arts Center one of the premier arts centers in the state.
Melissa Meredith is an intaglio printmaker with a much-loved studio at the FVAC where she both works and teaches. Her artwork is in museums, numerous private and corporate collections, and can be found in several New England galleries. An avid gardener, Melissa lives in Bloomfield.
Chia Kang (CK) Wang