The Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Tourism, Culture, History & Film in partnership with The Institute for Community Research (ICR) announces a widely anticipated exhibition featuring the works of Urban Artists Initiative (UAI) artists. Entitled 10 CITIES/ 10 YEARS, the exhibition opens to the public Sunday, February 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. and runs through Wednesday, March 7, 2004 at the John Slade Ely House, 51 Trumbull Street, New Haven CT.

The show, an open exhibition, will culminate in awards of cash prizes to winners selected by juror, Joanna Marsh, acting Emily Hall Tremaine Curator of Contemporary Art at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Marsh states, "It is a great pleasure for me to join in celebrating the tenth anniversary of Urban Artists Initiative, as juror of the exhibition 10 CITIES/10 YEARS. UAI has provided invaluable aid to rising artists in Connecticut, enabling these individuals to gain recognition for their work within their local communities and the art world at large. I can think of no better way to acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of UAI, than by honoring the artwork of its former participants."

10 CITIES/10 YEARS is a celebration of visual artists who have participated in the Urban Artists Initiative program. The 25 artists who will exhibit are among the over 285 artists and arts organizations from ten Connecticut cities and towns including New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Norwalk, Stamford, Bristol, New Britain, Norwich and New London. UAI is the only existing national demonstration program funded in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts to serve emerging artists and organizations. "Connecticut is fortunate to have such a group of artists contributing to its rich cultural resources," says program director, Maryland Grier. The program provides in each city, three years of training, mentorships, school/community-based residencies, and exhibit, performance and literary opportunities to its participants.

"I'm please and excited for the opportunity to direct an exhibit of this magnitude for the UAI and to have Joanna Marsh involved as juror. UAI has grown tremendously over these ten years since it's inception. The level of accomplishment is overwhelming as seen in the artists' work a well as in their resumes. The program has allowed communities the opportunity to share in the growth of people who in some cases would have never been recognized. Its artists and its relationships within Connecticut's arts communities are overwhelming and bring me great joy being a former participant in the program myself," says program coordinator and artistic director, Colleen L. Coleman.

The opening reception is free and open to the public. Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Friday, 11am - 4pm, Saturday & Sunday, 2pm - 5pm. For more information about the Gallery, please call (203) 624-805 For more information on "10 CITIES/10 YEARS", please call Colleen Coleman, UAI Program Coordinator and Artistic Director at The Institute for Community Research (ICR) at 860-278-2044, ext. 310 (or visit www.incommunityresearch.org)

Other UAI Activities to celebrate 10 CITIES/10 YEARS:
Event: Literary Reading featuring UAI artists and Guest Poet: Krishna Hayes
Date: Friday, February 20, 2004
Time: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: John Slade Ely House, 51 Trumbull Street, New Haven

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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.

The John Slade Ely House is a non-profit art center located in the Audubon Arts District of New Haven. Founded in 1961 in a converted Elizabethan style residence, the John Slade Ely House is New Haven's first dedicated arts center. The Ely House program includes Three to Five curated and thematic group exhibitions of contemporary regional artists per year organized by the Curator. In addition The Ely House hosts juried and member exhibitions by fine arts organizations from New Haven and Connecticut such as the New Haven Paint and Clay Club, The New Haven Brush and Palette Club, Connecticut Women Artists, Connecticut Watercolor Society, and The Calligraphy Guild of New Haven.