100 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT 06103 | 860-525-8629 | www.letsgoarts.org
Our Mission: Our mission is to inspire all people to participate and invest in the arts so that, together,
we can improve lives and transform our community through the power of the arts.
The Greater Hartford Arts Council helps to improve lives and transform communities through the arts, right here in the Capital Region. Thanks to the generous contributions of corporate partners and individuals like you, the Arts Council is able to provide critical support to nearly 150 non-profit arts organizations, allowing them to offer educational opportunities for thousands of children and adults, help improve health outcomes for our most vulnerable citizens, and spark civic dialog to create a more vibrant and united community. All through the power of the arts.
We are incredibly grateful to the Greater Hartford Arts Council … we founded a professional theater in 2009 when the economy was at its worst. So without the support from foundations like the Arts Council, we certainly wouldn’t be here. Programming support has allowed us to supplement ticket prices and to keep our tickets at a more affordable price range.
– Tracy Flater, Executive Director, Playhouse on Park (West Hartford)
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your organization?
The ongoing pandemic has been devastating to the arts and cultural sector, like so many others. The Arts Council is proud to be able to draw on nearly 50 years of experience adapting to change, building strong relationships with our donors and corporate partners and supporting the arts and cultural sector. We have drawn on that expertise to help design and administer an artist relief program, small organization recovery program, arts organization relief program and a PPE distribution program for the sector, as well as bring leaders together for peer-to-peer discussion, support and learning.
How have the services you provide to the community changed in response to the COVID’s impact? Have you developed new and far-reaching services/support?
The Arts Council has remained focused on serving the arts and cultural community, however we have adapted our programs to meet the evolving needs of the sector, including the relief and recovery programs mentioned above. When the pandemic first took hold, we shifted our promotional efforts to highlight all of the amazing virtual programs, concerts and performances that were starting to take place in Greater Hartford as a way to keep people connected to the arts. Today, we are continuing this work, providing critical financial resources to artists and organizations, showcasing local artists, highlighting virtual and socially-distanced programs, and advocating each and every day for this region’s arts and cultural community.
