CT city taps inaugural director of new office of arts, culture and entertainment
Now she has been named the inaugural Director of the city's newly established Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment by Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam.
The position was initially announced in Oct. 2024 and the office is funded through an agreement with Goodworks Entertainment. The program also includes a five-year rental of Bushnell Park, and a supplemental contribution based on a per-ticket fee from the Capital Groove Festival, according to the city.
'Goodworks Entertainment is excited to see the Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment take this next important step. We look forward to working with Director Duggan to further enhance Hartford's cultural offerings and ensure the success of this vital initiative,' said Tyler Grill, co-founder and CEO of Goodworks Entertainment in a statement.
Duggan, a lifelong Middletown resident, said she attended the Greater Hartford Academy of Arts.
'I'm excited to start this journey,' Duggan said. 'A lot of my life was built around Hartford and it set me on my path. I had the chance to work with some icons. Later on, I had the chance to teach at the Greater Hartford Academy of Arts and at the University of Hartford. My relationship to Hartford is deep.'
In all, Duggan brings more than 20 years of experience in theater to her new role. She has worked as a producer, director, and cultural architect.
Duggan was trained as an actor at the State University of New York Purchase College in the School of Theater Arts and Film. Duggan has been an artistic producer at TheaterWorks since 2015.
Duggan led a collaboration of TheaterWorks Hartford and Riverfront Recapture in a production of 'Walden' staged on the banks of the Connecticut River. Also, on her resume are lead producer of First Night Hartford, directing at Julliard, and her former position as associate producer at Octopus Theatricals. She also had a stint in corporate marketing with Mattel.
Duggan said she will be coordinating with every aspect of entertainment to maintain and grow Hartford's cultural landscape.
'Arts, culture and entertainment are vital and define us as a people and a place,' Duggan said. 'The arts allow us to connect with each other. It's something that we can all agree on. Arts are essential to that reconnection in identity with each other, a collective identity. I'm looking for an opportunity to create a culture through its identity.
'There's a legacy of Hartford being a prominent place for great literary, artistic and economic minds,' she added. 'That legacy excites me. I've been a part of the arts for a long time in Hartford and that spirit is still very much alive. I want to advocate for that voice for what Hartford is. I want to be an ambassador to that spirit and excellence that is found here.'
Duggan starts her position within the next few weeks. Duggan said she will be busy getting back into the community and meeting with individual artists and businesses after working in New York for the last two years.
'I want to meet with all of the stakeholders that are invested in the arts and culture scene in Hartford,' Duggan said. 'This is the heart of the state and Hartford has always been important to me.'
Arulampalam said he was excited to have Duggan aboard.
'Taneisha has been a driving force in Hartford's creative community for decades,' Arulampalam said in a statement. 'Her passion for the arts, deep connections within the community, and dedication to shaping the future of Hartford's arts landscape make her the ideal leader for the Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment. This office will play a critical role in showcasing Hartford's rich cultural assets, drawing visitors, and fostering opportunities for local artists to thrive.'
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