Real Art Ways announced Tuesday a $14.7 million expansion and renovation of its current Hartford location, at 56 Arbor St., which will include the hiring of an additional 25 full and part-time staff, 120 temporary construction jobs and will feature four cinemas.
“Real Art Ways has been a vital center of arts, culture and community in the city of Hartford for decades, and it’s an anchor institution in the Parkville neighborhood,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who attended the announcement along with Connecticut House of Representatives Speaker Matt Ritter, Secretary of State Denise Merrill and Will Wilkins, executive director of Real Art Ways.
Real Art Ways is a 46-year-old contemporary arts organization that is nationally recognized as an innovative force in the area of contemporary art.
The expansion and renovation of the Arbor Street site — where Real Art Ways has been based for 31 years — is expected to begin in the fall of 2022 and is anticipated to take up to two years to complete.
The arts entity is expected to close on the $4 million purchase of the building later this year.
In addition to four cinemas, other areas of expansion include: educational space for classes and workshops; a theatrical area for performing arts events; a cafe and gathering space; and rental space for events, offices and studios.
Real Art Ways began in 1975 when a group of area artists set up a live-work space in downtown Hartford.
