The Arts Lift Our Spirits.

The arts improve our quality of life, add that extra spark to our daily lives, help our children learn, create thousands of jobs and bring us together. The Greater Hartford Arts Council will celebrate its 50th birthday next year, a benchmark we look forward to celebrating. Each and every day, we are inspired by the powerful impact the arts have in the Capitol region and we work tirelessly to advocate and raise the critical funds to support our community’s incredible cultural treasures.

At this very moment, many of the organizations that we have proudly supported and watched grow, develop and thrive are facing enormous challenges, like so many of us and so many businesses. It is our hope that together with you, our very loyal and generous supporters, we can help sustain our arts and cultural community through this devastating pandemic.

From our cornerstone organizations to those small community and neighborhood based arts centers, these organizations are integral to the fabric of our daily lives and many of which do not have the ability to get through this alone. They are depending on the Arts Council, and our supporters, now more than ever. They are counting on us to provide financial and organizational support so they can concentrate on serving our children, our seniors and those underserved members of our community.

Scroll through for virtual experiences from local artists and organizations:
  • West Hartford's own Noah Webster House has been hosting "Armchair Tours of West Hartford" on Facebook every week!
    Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
  • CT Science Center has an online resource, Science at Home, for families looking for educational activities including Movie Mondays and Virtual Field Trips.
    Connecticut Science Center
  • Visit HSO-To-Go, the Hartford Symphony's new online resource for music education, performances, and more!
    Hartford Symphony Orchestra
  • Judy Dworin Performance Project features company members leading art activities, reading, singing, and dancing several days a week on their Facebook page.
    Judy Dworin Performance Project
  • Join reSET every Wednesday at 3pm for The reSET Forum, a Zoom conversation aiming to provide a forum for co-creation. "How can we collectively support the change that is needed locally in Hartford, as we rebuild toward a better future globally?" RSVP here.
    reSET
  • The New Britain Museum of American Art has set up a digital portal for visitors to stay connected, including curatorial chats, art activities, and access to their permanent collection: nbmaa.org/online
    New Britain Museum of American Art
  • Look for a new installment of "Creative Connections" every Wednesday at 5pm on Wadsworth Atheneum social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for a different staff member's musings on art, creative know-how, and how they are staying connected while working from home.
    Wadsworth Atheneum
  • Scene and Heard LIVE: Join Artistic Director Melia Bensussen for a virtual cocktail hour every Wednesday at 5pm. Each week features a special topic and conversation, short play reading, and Q & A.
    Hartford Stage
  • Join Kamora's Cultural Corner on Wednesdays from 6-8pm for Community Conversations on Zoom. (Meeting: 722 6393 4349)
    Kamora’s Cultural Corner
  • Connecticut Historical Society has something for the whole family - Coffee Hour, virtual activities, and more.
    Connecticut Historical Society
  • Join Pop Artist Olivia Nguyen (Fiyabomb) for her weekly painting class on Instagram Live, Sundays at 3pm.
    Fiyabomb
  • Check out the Mark Twain House & Museum for At-Home Education, Virtual Tours, and More!
    Mark Twain House & Museum
  • Follow along on Instagram Live as Tainted, Inc. hosts breathwork with Lydia McClain, Wednesdays at 8pm.
    Tainted, Inc.
  • Rebecca Maloney and Diana Aldrete lead their weekly art workshop, #ArtUnQuarantined, through May 2 on Instagram Live. Learn more here.
    Rebecca Maloney
  • Join Cuatro Puntos on Zoom,for their Cross-Atlantic Quarantine series throughout April-June on Mondays at 2pm for musical collaborations and conversations broadcast from Iraq, Turkey, India, and more.
    Cuatro Puntos
  • Living Room Join TheaterWorks in April on Facebook Live and Instagram Live for the digital version of their "Living Room" music series, Wednesdays at 7:30pm.
    TheaterWorks
  • West Hartford-based Funnybone Records has been curating a weekly "(Don't) Get to the Gig" livestream series on Instagram live, hosting three bands every Thursday evening at 8pm. #MakeArtPossible
    Funnybone Records
  • Hartford Public Library is offering all kinds of virtual programming, from art classes to book reading, on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
    Hartford Public Library
  • Join Charter Oak Cultural Center on Zoom for "Charter Oak Chatter," a series of poetry readings and discussions.
    Charter Oak Cultural Center
  • Follow Hartford Performs on Instagram and Facebook to participate in educational, family-friendly activities!
    Hartford Performs
  • Poetess and Activist Zulynette Morales leads a poetry workshop every Tuesday at 8pm on Instagram Live.
    Zulynette
  • Urban Pop Artist and Graphic Designer Lindaluz Carrillo leads a Letter Style workshop every Friday on Facebook live.
    Lindaluz Carrillo
  • Inspired by MTV Unplugged and VH1 Storytellers, the Arts Council will be livestreaming some of our region's best musicians on Instagram Live, Mondays at 8pm through June 15.
    Greater Hartford Arts Council
  • Join Dimensional Dance for a variety of weekly online dance classes on Zoom and Instagram live.
    Dimensional Dance
  • Playhouse on Park offers a variety of virtual experiences, including Dance with Darlene and Virtual Open Mic. Playhouse on Park
    Playhouse on Park
  • Get Sauced
    TheaterWorks Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero welcomes us into his kitchen as he serves up juicy memories, good times, and the sauce. Featuring special guests and familiar faces. Instagram Live, Thursdays at 5pm: Instagram  
    TheaterWorks
Help Today

We know so much has been asked of all of us during this crisis and we understand it has been a very difficult time. We thank you for your support of the arts and cultural community and the Greater Hartford Arts Council. If you are able, we would greatly appreciate whatever you can do to help us ensure that the lights, which may be dimmed today, will shine brightly again at our arts and cultural institutions.

Statewide resources and experiences

Are you an artist or an arts professional looking for relief information? Visit our resource page here.