2023 Initiative To Embrace Hartford's Arts & Entertainment Scene

Greater Hartford Arts Council

HARTFORD, CT — Hartford's union of arts and quality of life in 2023 was formally unveiled last week at a special event hosted by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The GHAC announced the 2023 edition of "Hartford Creates" — an arts mobilization partnership between the City of Hartford.

Hartford Creates is an initiative designed to elevate the creative economy; increase engagement and increase diversity within the arts community; and create access and awareness of the arts.

At the heels of a successful 2022, GHAC said more than 1,300 artists were employed and more than 280,000 attendees were drawn to Hartford-based events.

Last year, Hartford Creates was behind such events as: the Hartford Jazz Society, Inc.
2022 Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Juneteenth Picnic in the Park; the Riverfront Recapture Arts & Culture Series; and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra Symphony in the Park.

“Arts is at the center of what makes Hartford Hartford,” said Mayor Luke Bronin. “We knew that arts was a must-have as we came out of the pandemic and worked to accelerate our recovery and that’s why we’re so grateful for the chance to partner with the Greater Hartford Arts Council and all the individuals and organizations out there who work every day to celebrate the diverse arts and culture of this city, and that comes in many forms.

"That comes in the murals that bring blank spaces to life on buildings throughout the City of Hartford. That comes in the form of street musicians that will be activating corners in our city. That comes in the form of those big festivals that bring hundreds of thousands of people into our city.”

The inititiave has the support of Hartford's lawmakers and congressional delegation.

“After last year’s success, I am thrilled to join Mayor Bronin and Dr. Shelley Best to announce the launch of Hartford Creates Summer ’23,” said U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District.

“With help from funding we secured in Congress, Hartford Creates is supporting new jobs in the community and has already brought thousands of people into the city to celebrate arts and culture. I look forward to celebrating what Hartford has to offer this summer, and I urge all residents to take part in these exciting initiatives and activities.”

“The Hartford Creates program continues to attract top artists to our capital city so our community can experience, engage and explore our world-class art,” said Best, chief executive officer of the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

“I want to publicly thank Mayor Luke Bronin for trusting us to create such a vital initiative! He kept his promise to activate the arts with funding."

For more information on the Greater Hartford Arts Council, click on this link.

For more information on 'Hartford Creates,' click on this link.