'The Giggling Pig' Open For Business In Seymour

(Left to right) Joe Migani, Joan O'Riordan Migani, Hannah Perry, Pia Migani, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis and state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria

SEYMOUR – Dress for a mess!

That’s pretty much the calling card for a new children’s art studio downtown, The Giggling Pig, which held its official grand opening Friday (May 20).

With wooden shelves overflowing with jars of glitter, finger paints, sequins, paintbrushes, blank canvasses, construction paper and tables flanked by rainbow-colored chairs, the bright new space at 38 Columbus St. is designed to let kids express their creativity and get messy at the same time.

Local officials joined The Giggling Pig founder/owner Hannah Perry and the new Seymour franchise owner Pia Migani to welcome the art studio/children’s party space to town.

The joyful voices of children will be filling this space and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell. 

Perry, who originally hails from England, opened the first Giggling Pig in Shelton in 2011. She named the award-wining studio, which offers art classes, after-school enrichment programs, birthday parties, special events and seasonal camps for kids ages 2 – 16, after her children’s book, The Giggling Pig and Friends.”

Migani’s father, Joe Migani, a local architect who owns the block of buildings, said every time he drives or walks by the studio he gets a little embarrassed” because he literally giggles” when he looks at the sign outside the building.

This is the most awesome thing to have in downtown Seymour,” Migani said I’ve only witnessed a few classes, but you can’t beat seeing a mom and a dad working side by side with their children and the excitement, the love, positivity and creativity that comes with it.”

First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis lauded Perry and Migani for making Seymour home to one of their new franchises. Perry plans to open several more studios in Connecticut later this year, (there are also studios in Bethel and Milford) with an ultimate goal to branch out nationally and even internationally.

As a single mom, Perry was always seeking out places for her kids to express themselves creatively, and when she couldn’t find anything, decided to open her own studio.

I’m so lucky to be in Seymour and to have met the Migani family,” Perry said. It was my dream to bring all kinds of things for kids to do. The Giggling Pig is a wonderful place for people to drop their kids, go next door, get a cup of tea and go shopping downtown.”

A trio of siblings Maximilian, Julia and Veronica Suarez, of Oxford were on hand with their mom, Sarah, for the grand opening and decided to channel their inner Picassos.

This looks like a great place to get really messy,” said Max, 11.

Max’s sister, Veronica, 6, was painting a springtime scene with grass, blue skies and flowers. She was excited to sprinkle glitter all over her work of art.

Suarez, who has nine kids ranging in age from 1 to 14, recently moved to Oxford from New York, and as a mom who home schools her kids, is always looking for unique places to take them.

There’s so much for everybody to do here,” Suarez said. It’s light and bright and beautiful.”

Perry said the studio will also offer programs and classes for adults, corporate clients, assisted living, private parties, hospital, home school groups and schools.

For more information, visit the art studio’s website.

(Left to right) Veronia, Maximilian and Julia Suarez, of Oxford.

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