Norfolk is “Epitome of Rural Intelligence”

By Joel Howard
When Norfolk resident Francesca Turchiano approached the Economic Development Commission (EDC) last fall with the thought of exposing more outsiders to the unique offerings of Norfolk, she came armed with several ideas. After a review, the commission expressed the greatest interest in the idea of an arts festival. “The rest is history,” according to EDC President Libby Borden. She points to the town’s 2009 Plan of Conservation and Development, specifically the area pertaining to “enhancement of village vitality” as the target for what would become ArtsWave!. “It fit exactly into that part of the mission statement.”

International art dealer Mia Weiner hosted an ArtsWave! session titled “Old Master Drawings” in her Norfolk barn.

With culturally based economic development seeming the surest route to sustaining vibrancy in an already artistic community, ArtsWave! was born. The real work for the inaugural edition began in February of this year.
According to Turchiano, bringing visitors to town is crucial to creating a clientele deep and broad enough to sustain the downtown businesses. As noted in the September issue of Norfolk Now, two restaurants have recently emerged with new ownership, as has the Corner Store. She cited the Farmers Market as “a good example of an idea, once implemented, taking off – something where the community can get involved and help, locally in so many beneficial ways, to bring new people to town.”
With a small downtown area there is little room for retail businesses. Those already in operation must have income not only in the busy summer (and to a lesser extent autumn), but also through the remainder of the year. Again, another planned benefit of ArtsWave! was the opportunity to expose local offerings to a greater audience.
Events included a three-day Norfolk Artists and Friends’ exhibit at Yale’s Battell Stoeckel Gallery, dance performances and author appearances, and even a Taste of Norfolk event.
The very well-attended author appearances are one aspect of the event that greatly appealed to Turchiano. Norfolk has several resident authors, and connections of varying kinds to even more. “The literary talent here is largely unacknowledged and underdeveloped,’ Turchiano said.
Readings were held at Infinity Hall, the Norfolk Historical Society and the Norfolk Library. In what provided an apt example of the pulling together Turchiano had hoped to effect, the library put out a last minute call for a larger space to accommodate a reading of “Love Letters.” The chapel at Church of Christ Congregational was quickly offered, proving to be the key to a well-received and popular reading. Norfolk Farmers Market also got into the spirit by hosting six author readings on Saturday, and helping with Taste of Norfolk that same afternoon.
Proof of the overall success of the event is evident in the fact that many artists and businesses uninvolved this year have expressed keen interest in joining next year’s event.
Noticed far and wide, mentions could be found in the Hartford Courant and a feature article in Litchfield County Times. On the heels of the event, Rural Intelligence, a popular e-zine, called Norfolk “the epitome of rural intelligence,” while Huffington Post, a news website, labeled the event a front-runner in the “cultural locavorism trend.”
For next year’s ArtsWave! Turchiano freely expresses a need for more core volunteers to handle the hours of work needed to bring the event to fruition, as there is always more work behind the scenes than appears to the average attendee. From artists to businesses to grant money, the time needed is significant. With the success of the inaugural event, hopes are that more people will make themselves available for the next installment.
Building on success, the prospect of more involvement and a wider array of offerings bodes well for the 2011 edition of Norfolk’s ArtsWave!.