The Urban Artists Initiative (UAI), a program of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Tourism, History, Culture and Film, in partnership with the Institute for Community Research is pleased to present 10 Cities/10 Years Showcase Performance on April 24, 2004, 6:00pm-10:00pm. The event will take place at Manchester Community College Auditorium, Great Path, Manchester, CT. UAI performers in theater, dance and music will compete for first prize in each category. Internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader, Jimmy Greene, will perform as special guest artist. The event is free and open to the public.

"We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for UAI artists throughout the state and to celebrate the past ten years of the UAI program," says Maryland Grier, Program Director. These artists have contributed to the vitality of Connecticut's cultural life. "The performers have become well-recognized in Connecticut and throughout the region, and the Showcase Performance gives us the chance to recognize their work and to hear from internationally known saxophonist, Jimmy Greene." A Hartford native, saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Greene is emerging as a positive young presence in the creative music world. His solo recordings, Brand New World (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene (Criss Cross) have been met with much critical acclaim, and he has toured with Tom Harrell, Steve Turre, Ralph Peterson, and Harry Connick, Jr. His most recent CD, Forever (Criss Cross) was released this past February.

UAI artists performing in each category (along with their UAI city) are as follows:

Theater
Vital Elements (New Haven)
Repertory Theatre of New Britain (New Britain)
Ann Marie Williams (Norwich)

Dance
UNITY Dance Ensemble (Waterbury)
Teatro Latino de New London (New London)
Somaly Hay (New London)

Music
Nick Mathis, of the Many Colors of a Woman (Hartford)
Women of the Cross (Hartford)
Monica Brase (Norwich)
Deborah Simmons (Hartford)
Guno Leeflang (New London)

"These accomplished artists will provide a night of entertainment while also showcasing the outstanding artists from the state and from the Urban Artists Initiative program," state Grier. "I'm honored to help in making this program happen." Performances will include African dance, classical Cambodian dance, folk and gospel music, jazz, original comedy and poetic monologue and much more.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event or the UAI program, contact Maryland Grier, Program Director at 860-278-2044 ext. 228, email: maryland.grier@icrweb.org or Warren Avery, New London Site Coordinator at 860-278-2044 ext. 302, email: warrenavery@hotmail.com.

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The Urban Artists Initiative is a program of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts in partnership with The Institute for Community Research. The program was designed to address the unique needs of emerging urban artists and organizations that produce or present cultural events. The Urban Artists Initiative is funded by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and has received additional grant support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and the Waterbury Foundation.

The Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film is a state agency which supports artistic excellence and fosters cultural development through the arts and works to increase public understanding of, participation in, and support of the arts in Connecticut. The Institute for Community Research is an independent non-profit research organization with expertise in fieldwork, training and program administration in multicultural urban and nontraditional settings. The ICR promotes dialogue about the diversity of cultures, community issues and art forms found in Connecticut and New England.