Governor Ned Lamont was in Ridgefield this afternoon to celebrate the approval by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of the Arts designating the town as a Cultural District. 

Ridgefield is the first municipality to receive such a designation. 

Cultural Districts are walkable areas of a city or town that feature numerous cultural facilities, activities  or assets.  Ridgefield’s Cultural District encompasses downtown Ridgefield and surrounding areas that stretch from Keeler Tavern in the south portion through Ballard Park and the Ridgefield Library in the north, and a half-mile to the east to the Ridgefield Theater Barn and Guild of Artists. 

A requirement of the program is the city or town must establish a Cultural District Commission that manages all aspects of the district. It includes many cultural attractions, including the Pride Arts Center, Conservatory of Dance, Prospector Theater, Scott House, ACT of CT, and the Ridgefield Playhouse.  

DECD’s Director of Arts, Preservation and Museums Liz Shapiro says this program recognizes the essential role that local arts and cultural resources play in the building healthy communities over the long-term.  She applauded Ridgefield for taking the initiative to establish the district and ensuring that arts and culture are at the heart of their planning efforts moving forward.