Hartford Courant

"Real Art Ways continues to innovate, reach out and embrace their neighbors, and they're not limited by age and income level," said Mary Trudel, senior communications officer for the Wallace Foundation.

Trudel cited Real Art Ways' sponsorships of artists-in-residence in its Parkville location. Projects have included video portraits of senior citizens by artist Liz Miller, a book of poetry by Vernadah Porche based on conversations with neighborhood residents, and a joint project by artist Harrell Fletcher and members of the Parkville Senior Center. Real Art Ways has also supported a design competition for a gateway at the railroad bridge crossing Park Street and worked with a neighborhood committee to redesign Park Street itself.

The Wallace Foundation is a philanthropic organization in New York begun by the founders of Readers Digest. It is named for DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, who started the magazine in 1922.

The other five recipients of the Wallace Foundation Excellence Award this year are: the Arena Stage in Washington; the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, Calif.; the Des Moines Art Center in Iowa; the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark; and the University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, Mich.

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