Mission: The Charter Oak Cultural Center of Connecticut is the Hartford’s premier multi-cultural arts center. Charter Oak has long been an arts showcase for the region’s ethnically and culturally diverse communities. We offer performances, exhibits, classes, free after-school programming in the arts for inner city youth, lectures and events that nourish the mind, soul, body and spirit.
Background: Charter Oak Cultural Center, housed in Connecticut’s oldest synagogue building, is a non-profit, multi-cultural arts center committed to preserving the Jewish heritage of our building, providing access to the arts to all people and advocating the work of social justice. One of the hallmark programs is our Youth Arts Institute, which offers free art classes to under-served youth ages 8-18 in the Hartford area. We offer instruction in photography, drawing and collage, comic book illustration, hip-hop, breakdancing and world dance.
Major Fundraiser: Our major fundraiser is our annual gala, which will be held this year on May 7 at 5:30 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. At the gala, we present three “Vision Awards,” representing the three strands of our mission. This year’s winners are Ken Kahn, Arts and Education Award; Marilda Gandara, Social Justice Award; and Doreen Fundiller-Zweig, Jewish Heritage Award. The gala is our largest source of operating funding and so is essential to the continued vitality of our organization. It’s a really-fun party, including live music and dancing. As we always say, “Black tie is optional, having fun is not!”
Volunteer Needs: We are in need of people to help this summer with “Putting Down Roots in Hartford,” a program designed to give Hartford children ages 8-15 a nourishing summer activity and to provide food for participants and the community at large.
Leadership:
Donna Berman, executive director
Eddie Binder, president of the board of directors
Peter Rubenstein, vice president
David Klein, treasurer
Bobsie Ness, secretary
Todd Ferry, youth arts institute coordinator
Contact Information:
Charter Oak Cultural Center
21 Charter Oak Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 249-1207
www.charteroakcenter.org
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Rabbi Donna Berman is the executive director of the Charter Oak Cultural Center.
