How We Got Our Start

Since the 80s, Thérèse (Tsetse) has been figuring out ways to build community creatively. While she was working at the USPS early in her career, she increased Philatelic sales by 100% in 12 months by getting the community involved in with the current philatelic theme, such as WWII, environmental and legacy stamps, to name a few.  This turned out to be a great way to both involve the community and increase cultural awareness and stamp sales.  It was at this time, that she first started to recognize her passion for finding creative ways to bring other people's messages forth in the community. This was the tiny seed of recognition that led to the future TSETSE galleries.

Inspired to interact with the community, she opened her first  gallery/promotional printing company in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1994. Here she was able to replicate what she had done while at the USPS, but this time for artists. Her space doubled as both a gallery space for local artists, where they hosted shows and showcased their latest pieces, and she'd also print the artists' work on unique products to further promote their work. 

Beyond simply selling, Tsetse was also teaching and providing free art programs for kids in state care and kids with special needs. She used the profits she received from printing the artists' work at the printing company to fund these programs. With this spirit of collaboration, she was able to create a an arts-focused environment where everyone benefited.  Eventually she moved to Rhode Island, and was able take these programs to the next level.

It was clear that working with kids and the community was more impactful and became more important to her than printing, so she decided to restructure the company, and that is how the TSETSE Gallery was born. Before long, she closed the New Hampshire gallery, and opened a new gallery in New London, CT. For many years she operated both the Rhode Island and Connecticut galleries, simultaneously offering programs and hosting events at both locations.

In 2013, Tsetse decided that she could do more for the community by operating strictly on a mobile basis. Now the TSETSE Gallery has evolved into the TSETSE Initiative. She continues to run community-focused programs for students, seniors and those with special needs. Without the added weight of maintaining two physical storefronts, she is able to affect members of many more communities outside of just the Providence and New London areas.

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