Ridgefield Seeks Nominations For 6th Annual Cultural District Award

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Ridgefield Economic and Community Development Commission is seeking nominations for the town’s sixth annual Cultural District Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to Ridgefield’s cultural and economic vitality.

The award honors a person whose work has advanced some aspect of Ridgefield’s cultural district through activities such as launching a new enterprise, creating programs that draw visitors, providing distinguished service to a local organization, or supporting the district through philanthropy or other fundraising efforts.

Nominees may be residents or others associated with Ridgefield and may represent either for-profit or nonprofit organizations. The award is limited to individuals; organizations are not eligible.
Nominations must be submitted by midnight Jan. 31, 2026, and emailed to ridgefieldecdc@gmail.com. Submissions should include the nominee’s name and a one-paragraph description outlining qualifications, including relevant dates and affiliations. Nominations must also include the nominator’s name, email address and phone number. Anonymous nominations will not be accepted.

The commission will review nominations and select the honoree at its March 2, 2026, meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the lower-level conference room at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public, with access through the Bailey Avenue entrance.

The award will be presented at the Ridgefield Arts Council’s annual Behind the Scenes ceremony in May 2026, with the date and location to be announced.

Ridgefield’s Cultural District designation, awarded by the state of Connecticut, recognizes the town’s downtown as a hub of artistic and economic activity. Ridgefield was the first municipality in the state to receive the designation, which was awarded by Gov. Ned Lamont during a ceremony at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in May 2021.

Past recipients of the Cultural District Award include former state Rep. John Frey and Books on the Common co-owner Ellen Burns in 2021; longtime Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum curator Richard Klein in 2022; Ridgefield Playhouse Executive Director Allison Stockel in 2023; Selectperson and CHIRP founder Barbara Manners in 2024; and Ridgefield Theater Barn Executive Director Pam Jones in 2025.