The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism has eliminated the position of Arts Division director effective Sept. 13. The Arts Division will then fall under the purview of Culture Director David Bahlman, who also directs the commission’s State Historic Preservation Office. The position has been held by An-Ming Truxes for seven years.
Yesterday, “arts stakeholders” received news of the consolidation in an e‑mail from Christopher “Kip” Bergstrom, deputy director of the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
The e‑mail, which was sent by Bergstrom’s executive secretary, Leigh Johnson, read, in part: “This is to let you know that as part of the management restructuring stemming from the merger of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism and the Department of Economic and Community Development, the management of the Office of the Arts and the State Historic Preservation Office will be consolidated under David Bahlman, who has held the title of Director of Culture. The position of Director of the Office of the Arts currently held by An-Ming Truxes will be eliminated effective September 13, 2011. We wish to thank An-Ming for her hard work over the past seven years in promoting and strengthening the role of the Arts in Connecticut.”
In a March 10, 2011, press release announcing his appointment as executive director of the Commission on Culture & Tourism, Bergstrom was quoted as saying: “The Commission on Culture and Tourism is a key component of our economic strategy in the state, but it’s been traditionally underutilized. I’m looking forward to redesigning the way we approach tourism and cultural attractions and working with key stakeholders in those sectors, including Governor Malloy and (Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner) Catherine Smith.”
Consolidation of the state’s Commission on Culture & Tourism into the Department of Economic and Community Development began on July 1, 2011.
Asked today in an e‑mail how “arts stakeholders” should view yesterday’s news (in terms of the elimination of Truxes’ position), Bergstrom responded: “As a result of the reorganization, the Office of the Arts will have 5.5 professional staff (five program managers and .5 of a division head). It now has five professional staff (four program managers and one division head). The stakeholders should expect more direct staff interaction than they had before the reorganization.”
Today, in an e‑mail to members of the arts community, Truxes wrote: “As follow up to Kip Bergstrom’s message yesterday, I want to take a moment to tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as arts division director of CCT since 2004 when the Arts first merged with Historic Preservation, Tourism, and Film (and as deputy director and senior program manager for the Commission on the Arts from 1997 to 2003). I have come to know many of you over these years and value our friendships and working relationships. They have afforded me an exciting and challenging professional life filled with opportunities to serve and participate in the arts all over Connecticut. Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and leadership for which I have developed profound admiration and respect. Many of you are asking about the status of arts grant programs for FY2012. Please continue to check our website for program information and updates as DECD – Office of the Arts addresses changes resulting from the CCT/DECD merger and this management restructuring. My professional, personal, and family life has always been steeped in the arts. That will not change. Some of you have asked, but I cannot tell you at the moment what is next for me after September 13th. In the meantime, I send you my best wishes for the continued vibrancy of the arts in your communities. You make a difference.”