Developing A Community's Potential through Arts, Culture and Tourism with Amy Wynn 

Join Amy Wynn, Executive Director of the American Mural Project in Winsted, CT for a presentation sharing how arts and cultural assets play a role in making communities vital, relevant and attractive to current and new residents, businesses and entrepreneurs, and visitors.  Case studies, examples and data will be shared, as well as ways that audience members can learn more and ensure that arts and culture are part of their community's development.

 ABOUT AMY WYNN

Amy Wynn, a resident of Falls Village, is Executive Director of the American Mural Project, located in Winsted, CT. The American Mural Project (AMP) works to wake people up to the “art of work”. AMP does this through the creation and display of the largest collaborative, indoor 3-dimensional mural in the world, currently being installed at its home in a renovated historic mill building, and also through its educational programs. Before the American Mural Project, Amy established and led the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council for 15 years since its founding in 2003.

Ms. Wynn holds a BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School and a MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College CUNY. After her dance career, she worked for national search consulting firm serving non-profit arts and education clients. She then worked for Dance Theatre of Harlem as Director of Administration and General Manager. After seven years, she was invited to take the position as Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Outreach for the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, where she also taught Arts Management for undergraduates as an adjunct faculty member. Since her move to Falls Village, she has become involved in arts organizations and other non-profit organizations throughout the region on both a volunteer basis and as a consultant.

In addition to her job and volunteer work, Amy is President of the board of the Connecticut Arts Alliance, and is on the boards of the Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation and the Upper Housatonic Valley Heritage Area. Previously, she served on the CT Arts Council, and was on the board of the CT Arts Foundation.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN MURAL PROJECT

The American Mural Project (AMP) seeks to inspire, to invite collaboration, and to reveal to people of all ages the many contributions they can make to American culture. A celebration of American ingenuity, productivity, and commitment to work, the project is intended as a tribute and a challenge. Nothing like it exists in the world.

More than 15,000 children and adults have helped create pieces of the mural, and an additional 30,000 from all 50 states are expected to help finish the project. A multi-subject curriculum based on the mural is now in pilot programs in local schools; an online version is in development.

Two former mill buildings on Whiting Street in Winsted, Connecticut, will house the mural and an adjacent visitors center, which will become a destination for school and teacher programs, after-school programming, summer enrichment activities, and lectures and workshops, as well as the onsite portion of AMP’s curriculum. The first mill building is currently being renovated and is projected to open in 2019.