Drake Hughey

@DJDrake

DJ Drake -- Celebrity DJ – is an entrepreneur and has been deejaying for over 25 years. He is recognized in the U.S. and internationally for playing all genres of music, is a producer, remixer, and a member of Fleet DJ’s - one of the world’s largest DJ collectives. DJ Drake was a fan favorite for 10 years on commercial radio stations, Clear Channel Power 104.1 FM, and CBS Hot 93.7 FM. He is now a frequent guest on SiriusXM’s Ch 47 The Friday FLY Ride with Heather B and SiriusXM’s Shade 45 Sway in the Morning Show. He also curates the Afro- Experience on DT Radio UK every first Saturday of the month. DJ Drake has performed on stage with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Busta Rhymes, DMX, Cameo, Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole & more. He was honored as the 2018 Connecticut Best DJ and was a 2019 recipient of the 100 Men of Color Award. In 2020, DJ Drake decided to leverage his skills to become an artist known as IAMDJDRAKE. He released his first record, an Afro House single called Africa, and in 2021 a Soulful House single called Goin No Where ft. Lamone. Goin No Where was a top 10 song of the week for the Radio Indie International Network. In 2023, IAMDJDRAKE dropped a new record, a Soulful House single called Bother Me ft. Keeyen Martin. On the heels of the record’s success, IAMDJDRAKE released a remix called Bother Me Again – DJ Spinna Galactic Soul Remix. In 2024, IAMDJDRAKE released two singles, Fool 4 Your Love ft. Jemimah Eze on DNJ Records, his newly launched record label, and Flying High ft. Precious James on Open Bar Records. In August 2024, he released an Afro Soul Amapiano remix for Fool 4 Your Love that is currently blazing the charts and creating a massive buzz. His records have garnered much success with 1,000,000+ streams in 140 countries on Spotify, over 500,000 video views on YouTube, a top 50 single on Music Choice R&B Soul, #1 on the Urban Influencer R&B Soul Chart, and #6 on the UK Soul Chart Breakers. The Traxsource 2024 In Review, IAMDJDRAKE had 8 Top 100 positions, 5 Hype Charts, 8 Weekend Weapons, 8 Essentials, and 65 features in DJ Charts. All songs can be found on all major digital platforms. DJ Drake can be found on all social media platforms (TIKTOK, TWITCH, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE) @IAMDJDRAKE. He can also be reached via phone at 860-508-6665 or email at bookiamdjdrake@gmail.com.

Art League of New Britain

@ArtLeagueofNewBritain

The Art League of New Britain (ALNB) is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1928 and dedicated to fostering artistic expression in the greater New Britain community through exhibitions, classes, and cultural programming. As the second-oldest art league in the United States, ALNB continues its legacy of supporting artists while preserving its historic landmark gallery space.

Mission The Art League of New Britain, Inc. exists to create and foster artistic expression and endeavor in the greater New Britain Community. The activities of the League will consist of classes, lectures, and presentations on both general and specific art subjects, exhibitions of artwork representing a wide variety of styles and media, and the encouragement of the artistic talent of the greater New Britain community. History The Art League of New Britain, a non-profit organization, is the second-oldest art league in the United States. Founded in 1928, its original mission was as an art school holding both day and evening sessions. In 1934 it transitioned into an art club where artists could work together and gather for social affairs. The ALNB’s first president, Sanford B. D. Low, former director of the New Britain Museum of American Art, was the driving force behind the original success of the League. He gave considerable time, talent and enthusiasm to keep the arts alive during the Great Depression. We honor him with our Sanford B. D. Low gallery. The Art League’s home first served as local industrialist George Post’s stable and carriage house. In fact the names of the horses are still above each stall door and the horseshoe cut out still remains at the peak of the main gable. Post’s daughter sold the barn to A. J. Sloper who in turn sold it to William C. Hungerford. The late Judge Hungerford had granted the use of his stable to the League for some time before his death, and after his death, his widow deeded the property to the League along with the surrounding land. The Art League has the responsibility for caring and preserving our precious landmark and has been careful stewards. In the words of Meta Lacy “Let no man presume to modernize our old barn by stripping it of its architectural personality, which properly dates it as a fine example of its period.”

Keila Myles

@keilamyles

My name is Keila Myles. I am a multi-talented independent artist, band leader, singer, songwriter, rapper, and visual artist hailing from New Haven, Connecticut. I am the frontwoman and band leader of Keila Myles and the Moose Knuckles, a punk soul band that blends elements of punk, soul, and rock into a unique sound. My music is characterized by my powerful vocals and introspective lyrics that explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. As a visual artist, I create bold and colorful paintings and illustrations that reflect my passion for music and hip hop culture. My DIY approach to art and music has led to the release of several singles, an EP and several collaborations. I have gained a reputation for my unique style and voice and have been featured in several exhibitions and galleries throughout Connecticut.

New Britain Youth Theater/No Boundaries Youth ThEATER

@nbyt

Founded in 2010 as New Britain Youth Theater and selected by Connecticut Magazine as Connecticut’s Best Children’s Theater in 2017, No Boundaries Youth Theater is a professionally-run community and educational theater for children and teens. The name change in 2018 reflects that NBYT is—and always has been—a youth theater that accepts children from all towns and communities, with all abilities, with all levels of experience, and to be involved in a variety of ways both onstage and off. NBYT produces a season of performances by and for children and young adults, provides in-school and after-school arts-integrated and arts-enrichment educational programming, and offers drama classes and individual coaching and lessons. NBYT is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young adults by encouraging creative thinking and collaborative teamwork, fostering self-confidence and self-esteem, and developing social, emotional, and academic skills through involvement in high-quality, affordable, and inclusive programs in the performing arts. NBYT operates its programs in community spaces and schools throughout Greater New Britain, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Lael Marie Saez

@royael

Lael Marie Williams (Saez) Bio (2020 update) My name is Lael Marie Saez, artist name Royael and I am a Hartford native. I started my dance career first under the teachings of my mother Ann Marie Williams and her educational arts program "K La Rue". From there as a child I studied ballet at Albinos for 3 years. I received more early training through the artist collective from middle school through high school, partaking in modern/jazz, ballet, hip-hop, tap and African dance under the direction of the honorary ACO Lee Thompson of New York and Kresha Hudgens of Hartford CT/ New York. While with the Artist Collective I performed at the Hartford Stage in the play "Oedipus" and performed a solo piece with a few other classmates at the Bushnell for the late Maya Angelou, who later that night personally told me ��ｿｿ�to never stop dancing". During high school I attended the classical magnet program and Hartford Public High school (where I did my academics) as well as the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts where I was trained in modern dance (Graham technique base), ballet, repertoire, improvisational, dance history, tap and numerous other dance and art classes. I graduated from all three schools in 2004 and started full time teaching at FootLights Performing Arts Center of Hartford, CT. In 2005 for the winter/spring semester I proceeded to Long Island University in Brooklyn, N.Y. where I continued my dance training under Donna Hash (Alvin Ailey��ｿｿ�s former principal dancer) and 4 other credible instructors. In the fall of 2005 I returned home and decided to continue teaching dance under the direction of FootLights and took classes in mortuary science at Briarwood college. In 2009 I joined the cultural dance troupe of the West Indies dance company with Stephen Hankey as head choreographer and stayed with them for 4 years. In 2010 I became a company member of the Judy Dworin project for 3 months working on the project "In this house��ｿｿ�; and was also recognized as dance instructor of the year at FootLights. In 2010 FootLights dissolved and transitioned in a new direction and entity called FootLights Performing Arts & Education Program under the late Debra Mauldin, which became a program offered at the Downtown YMCA where I have been currently active for the past 10 years and as of 2018 have become the sole owner of FootLights Performing Arts and Education Program after 19 years of service between FootLights Performing Arts Center and FootLights Performing Arts & Education Program LLC. In 2012 I had the privilege along with 5 other great dancers to create and be the first members of "Island Reflections Dance Theater Company" under the direction of Stephen Hankey, I am currently active with the company. In 2013 I was asked to be featured on the OPP workforce ��ｿｿ�Wall of Success��ｿｿ�. In addition to being the head Dance instructor I completed my time at the Downtown YMCA starting from assistant program coordinator to Program Director for the Downtown YMCA FootLights Program. I currently still own the FootLights Program and was recognized for 10 years of service in June 2015 ( 5 years with the YMCA) and 2020 was 10 years of service with the Downtown YMCA. As of March 2020 I became one of the teaching artists for the Bushnell Theater of Performing Arts. Outside of my dance career I am number 7 in the top 10 international Body Paint models with my Visual artist Joy Monroe for ��ｿｿ�Living Art America��ｿｿ� Body paint competition 2017, as well as #14 for International ��ｿｿ�Beyond The Canvas��ｿｿ� top 20 international body paint competition of 2018. In 2020 I was appointed as an Artist of Color Unite advisory board member for the Hartford Foundation For Public Giving and became one of the first fellows of the Artist of Color Accelerate lead by Shelley Best of the 224 Ecospace. In the the Fall of 2021, through an unanimous vote, I became Hartford CT��ｿｿ�s first artist representative as ��ｿｿ�Flow Artist��ｿｿ� through the Commission of Cultural Affairs, an honor that I hold deeply. As of 2022 I have been in collaboration with The Gambia West Africa��ｿｿ�s Arts and Culture sector as a Cultural Ambassador between Hartford, CT and The Gambia. I always stay active and committed to the community that has raised me, I am for us and by us, " I am Hartford, CT". Lael Marie Saez First City representative Flow Artist, CEO, Master Performing Teaching Artist,AA Royael Toujours Mignon LLC FootLights Performing Arts & Education Program LLC Batelles of The Diaspora LLC Hartford,CT 06114 860-913-4928 (work cell) https://www.facebook.com/FootLightsPerformingArtsED LaelMarieSaez.com Royaeltm IG

Farmington Valley Arts Center

@artsfvac

The Farmington Valley Arts Center is enriching lives through art. We are dedicated to cultivating a community where people can create, learn, exhibit, exchange ideas and inspire each other. We welcome and support participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds on their personal artistic journeys. Housed in historic sandstone buildings of the former Climax Fuse Factory in Avon CT, FVAC has been connecting the community to the creative process for almost 50 years! We offer unique educational programming, gallery exhibits, special events and the opportunity to engage with a with a community of professional artists working in 17 studios on campus.