The Windham Area Arts Collaborative, Inc. is comprised of member arts organizations and several individual artists who have come together to foster and promote the arts and cultural life of the Windham region.

Our goal is to maintain a multicultural, multidisciplinary, and multifaceted arts center where artists and artisans can interact with the public by sharing their creative endeavors. Our objectives are to bring together the arts and culture of the community; maintain exhibition, studio and office space; promote and support emerging and established artists; cultivate and promote participation in and support for the visual and performing arts through exhibitions, workshops and lectures; and to become a resource center which provides exposure to and participation in arts and cultural experiences.

Our 15 member organizations presently include:

• Artists Open Studio's Tour of Northeastern Ct.
• Arts In Motion
• Colectiva Mestizal
• Community Arts Alive, Inc.
• Community School of the Arts (UConn)
• Central Connecticut Wood Turners
• Curbstone Press
• EastConn
• Eastern Connecticut State University
• Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
• Quiet Corner Artists
• Studio Art Quilt Associates
• William Benton Museum (UConn)
• Windham Regional Arts Council
• Windham Theatre Guild

We have taken many steps toward accomplishing our mission and objectives since the first meetings to establish this collaborative in 1998. WAAC member arts organizations and individuals have been working together steadily to make real and tangible contributions to the cultural life of our community. The following are some highlights and indications of our progress and accomplishments.

• In late August 1999 and August 2000, we organized an outdoor Arts Celebration at the Windham Mill's Heritage Park in downtown Willimantic. The festive, 2 day weekend "Celebration" was partnered with the Quiet Corner Artists Annual Outdoor Juried art show. There were concurrent live performances in dance, music, puppetry, theatre, poetry, storytelling, exhibits of crafts and photography, and woodturning demonstrations. This event was an important first step in our goal to showcase arts activities in our region.
• We formed a Board of Directors, established bylaws, and incorporated in the State of Connecticut in January 2000.
• We received Technical Assistance Grants from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts working with fellow organization members as lead applicants. This funding enabled us to create a database for an Arts Directory of arts related organizations and individuals in the 10-town Greater Windham region — a resource directory of over 200 artists and culturally related organizations.
• On November 1, 2000, WAAC signed a lease for 3,000 square feet at 866 Main Street in downtown Willimantic to house the Windham Arts Center.
• We became a member of the Willimantic Chamber of Commerce.
• We were granted our 501(c)(3) Non-profit status on January 31, 2001.
• The second floor of the new Arts Center was renovated into five distinct artist studios that are fully rented to individual artists: a print-maker, potter, photographer, and 2 painters. This space also provides the Collaborative with its own administrative office and meeting area for small classes, presentations, and receptions. There is a gallery on the street level. The space was cleaned, repaired, and painted, and exhbits are regularly installed. The Gallery Advisory Committee was established and manages plans for ongoing exhibits.
• The Windham Arts Center & Gallery was formally opened on May 4, 2001.
• We publish a bi-monthly newsletter for our members.
• In September 2001 we sponsored an art exhibit entitled “Interpreting The Simple Truth” featuring art works inspired by the work of Puerto Rican feminist and poet Julia de Burgos. This exhibit was developed collaboratively with Curbstone Press and members of the Hispanic community around the dedication of the new Julia de Burgos Park in Willimantic.
• Subsequent shows have included Youth Art Shows with area high school art students, participation in the Open Studios tour, visiting artist exhibits with the Hartford Courant's Editorial Cartoonist, Bob Englehart, and photojournalist Mel Rosenthal. The exhibit schedule rotates approximately every 3 weeks and includes the work of member organizations, and both emerging and accomplished area artists. To date we have produced more than 25 exhibits that are free and open to the public.
• We collaborated with the Town of Windham Recreation Department and Eastern Connecticut State University in planning for both a Sidewalk Chalk Arts Festivals and a Founders Day Frogfests in Downtown Willimantic.
• In March 2002, we were accepted into the Urban Arts Initiative 3 year program in Norwich and New London which is sponsored by the Institute for Community Research and the CT. Commission on the Arts.
• In August 2001 WAAC sponsored the 1st Annual Sidewalk Chalk Arts Festival in Downtown Willimantic. More than 65 youths participated. We subsequently collaborated with the Town of Windham Recreation Department and Eastern Connecticut StateUniversity in later years to plan for both a Sidewalk Chalk Arts Festivals and a Founders Day Frogfests in Downtown Willimantic. Attendance nearly doubled.