Westport Arts
Advisory Committee
Committed to increasing public awareness of Westport's cultural resources.
HERE'S WHAT"S HAPPENING!
Art, Jazz + the Blues—curated by Anne Boberski, Ive Covaci and the WestPAC Committee—explores the powerful intersections between visual art and music, drawing from the rich holdings of the Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC).
The exhibition centers on Giants of the Blues, a sweeping series of seven group portraits by Westport native Eric von Schmidt (1931–2007) honoring blues, jazz, and folk musicians from the 1920s to the 1960s. Complementing von Schmidt’s paintings are approximately forty artworks from the WestPAC collection depicting musicians, inspired by musical themes, or exploring the resonances between musical and visual forms. A selection of important loans from galleries, museums, artists and private collections deepen the conversation, and a screening room features historic performance footage of musicians portrayed in von Schmidt’s paintings. As the jazz great Charlie Parker once said, the show invites visitors to “hear with your eyes and see with your ears.”
Experience pianist Miki Aoki’s vibrant program spanning Bach (arr. Busoni), Clara Schumann, Chopin, and Poulenc. Praised for her “genuinely memorable performance” by BBC Music Magazine, Aoki brings elegance, bold expression, and fresh perspective to every note. Join us for an evening where tradition meets reinvention in a captivating piano recital.
Brothers Chris and Dan Brubeck—who first recorded together in 1966—lead this dynamic ensemble through straight-ahead jazz inflected with funk, blues, and global rhythms. Their chart-topping album LifeTimes showcases the Quartet’s masterful improvisations and adventurous exploration of odd time signatures, drawing on a legacy that includes performances at major festivals worldwide and collaborations with orchestras from Philadelphia to Singapore. With guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb rounding out the group, the BBQ honors the spontaneous spirit of jazz while forging its own distinctive path.
The Westport Garden Club in partnership with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and The Westport Library is pleased to announce local winners of the National Garden Clubs, Inc and Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Youth Poetry Contestfor Gr K-12 students.
Join us at The Westport Library for a National Poetry Month celebration to support these student writers, and discover how poetry can plant seeds of connection, community, and imagination. The 2026 finalists will read their award winning work and Westport's poet laureate Donna Disch will lead a workshop for young poets to experience the power and joy of poetry in community and learn to craft their creativity.
The East Coast Contemporary Ballet (ECCB) returns to MoCA\CT with a special Salon Series evening featuring an excerpt from their upcoming Spring Season and a live artist talk-back. Experience a powerful new work inspired by Luca Serasini’s Waiting for Angels, and stay for a rare opportunity to engage directly with the artists behind the performance.
Presented in conjunction with Art, Jazz + the Blues, this community conversation explores Connecticut’s rich jazz legacy and its far-reaching influence beyond the Yale School of Music. Professor Thomas Duffy and Director of Jazz Ensembles Wayne Escoffery share stories of mentorship, collaboration, and music’s enduring social power, with a live saxophone interlude by Grammy-Award-winning Escoffery.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of exceptional musicianship featuring acclaimed violinist Karisa Chiu—praised for her “distinctive and fascinating intellect” and award-winning artistry—alongside the brilliant pianist Frederic Chiu, celebrated for his bold and imaginative programming. Together, this extraordinary duo brings the stage to life with a richly expressive program that intertwines the refined lyricism of Fauré, the dramatic intensity of Prokofiev, and the striking contemporary voice of Bright Sheng to create a performance overflowing with depth, color, and connection.
WAAC's current initiatives include an annual TEA (Thinkers, Educators, Artists) Talk; the installation and maintenance of sculptures and monuments in town parks and the establishment of a Poet Laureate for Westport as of July 1, 2019.
Have an interest in helping arts organizations in town? Joining the Westport Arts Advisory Committee?
Please reach out to Nancy Diamond, CoChair WAAC