The Greater Hartford Arts Council said Friday it is selling its empty midtown Hartford Courant Arts Center back to Aetna Inc.
Terms for the sale expected to close Friday were not disclosed.
Aetna in 1986 sold the property at 228 Farmington Ave., in the shadow of the health insurer’s headquarters complex, to the council for $1.
Over the years, the arts center has been home to Hartford Ballet, Connecticut Opera, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and community dance and opera programs of the Hartt School, among other cultural groups, the council said.
It also housed the art council’s offices during the ‘80s and ‘90s, but has been largely vacant since 2009.
Lately, escalating costs to operate and maintain the aging building have strained the council’s budget, said Kate Bolduc, arts council CEO.
Floyd Green, Aetna’s vice president for community relations and urban marketing, said in a statement the insurer “will be considering other uses for the property over the next several months.”
