The HealingNewtown Arts Space has officially opened.  The center will be a place for art therapy, workshops and a place for artists to finish works.  Newtown Cultural Arts Commission chair Jennifer Johnston says the First Selectman's office reached out to them to answer artists response to the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The arts space on Queen Street is located in a donated vacant storefront.  Organizers hope it will become a permanent fixture in the community.  Johnston says artists from Connecticut and elsewhere will lead art therapy, teach workshops and finish works in the space. 

The afternoon featured performances by Cirque du Jour acrobat Li Liu, dancers from the Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet, singers from the Wiffenpoofs of Yale University  and a chorus of children from Newtown. 

The open house was the kick-off to fundraising so Healing Newtown can find a permanent space.

Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra, Governor Dannel Malloy, his wife Cathy Malloy and Lt Governor Nancy Wyman were all on hand for yesterday's open house.