A new market has sprung up to help feature local artists and musicians in Wilton – centering on its already strong artistic center downtown.
The first Wilton Arts Market was held during the Wilton Winter Festival on Feb. 12, in the Wilton Collaborative Space, and organizers are hoping to make it a regular monthly event, capitalizing on the established art presence at the Riverview Mill on Howard Street, adjacent to the Wilton downtown and Main Street.
Folk musician Paul Driscoll was featured as a live music artist at the event. The Manchester-based artist said organizer Kate Schimke invited him to play, and it is just the kind of event he was interested in.
“It’s important you have these eyes and ears on you that otherwise have no reason to know who you are,” Driscoll said. “It exposes you to a whole different demographic.”
It’s also motivating, Driscoll said, to be surrounded by other artistic people, and see the things they are creating.
Though February was the first Wilton Arts Market, it won’t be the last.
With the warmer months approaching, organizers plan to make the market a regular event, outside of the Riverview Mill, a former mill building which has since been converted to artist studios for artists working in a variety of mediums. The market was originally planned to be held on a regular weekend every month, but currently is scheduled to work with other town events whenever possible to draw people into downtown Wilton.
The next scheduled Wilton Arts Market is during the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend Wander Through Wilton event. The event is May 6 to 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the market will be located outside in the parking lot of the Riverview Mill Artists Community at 33 Howard St. on Saturday and Sunday. The market is still seeking vendors. For information, contact wiltonartsmarket@gmail.com.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.