Halfway between Boston and New York City, Connecticut’s hills, picturesque beaches, and historic cities have provided inspiration for musicians, actors, sculptors, painters, directors, writers, and others for many years. Mark Twain, for example, lived in Hartford and F. Scott Fitzgerald had a home in Westport.
Today, many cities across the state have thriving arts communities – too many to include in one article. So, for now, enjoy our list of six “artistic” cities in Connecticut.
Kent
“Steel Roots” by Steve Tobin, on display in front of the Kent Memorial Library, is part of Sculpture in Exhibit 7 at the Morrison Gallery, Kent, which has a number of sculptures on display around downtown. The Morrison Gallery plans to create an international sculpture garden in Kent in the spring of 2015. Friday, January 2, 2015, Kent, Conn.
H John Voorhees III
Kent is a picturesque New England town full of gills with art galleries. Aside from Poole Bridge – one of Connecticut’s only covered bridges – and countless waterfalls in Kent Falls State Park, the city has many art institutions, including the Morrison Gallery, founded by famous guitarist William Morrison, and the Kent Art Society , and Craven Contracting. There is also a thriving downtown shopping scene with plenty of local artisan goods.
Ridgefield
Longtime Redding resident Carla Knight recently launched her first solo exhibition at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, which is on display through May 8.
Carla Knight / Contribution photo
Ridgefield has a number of Broadway stars among its residents, including composers Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid” and “Little Shop of Horrors”), Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked” and “Pippin”), Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez (“Frozen”, “Book of Mormon”). Therefore, it is not surprising that the city also has a thriving arts scene. In May 2021, the Connecticut Office of Arts designated the city as the state’s first cultural arts district. The area includes Connecticut Contemporary Theater (ACT), Ridgefield Barn Theatre, Conservatory of Music for Dance, Lounsbury House, Keeler Tavern, Aldrich Museum and others.
Norwalk
A mural of the building promoting Wall Street, in October 2029 above newly renovated storefronts at the corner of Commerce Street in Norwalk, Connecticut. The city has hired design firm Fuss & O’Neill to lead a study of how to renew traffic flows and sidewalks on Wall Street and surrounding streets to revitalize the neighborhood’s appeal.
Alexander Soleil /
Norwalk is a rich haven of public art and street art. The official Norwalk website has a stock of all the city’s public art shows installed between 1960 and 2014.
The city has its own series of portable audio guides that tell visitors about the various art performances around the city. Guides include West Avenue, City Hall to Wall Street, South Norwalk, Around Town, and WPA murals.
new sanctuary
Opening Night Opening Ceremony at New Haven Green at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas on Saturday, June 8, 2019.
Tiffany Hopkins
New Haven is home to one of the most respected universities in the world, but it also has a thriving creative arts scene. The Arts Council of New Haven hosts several events each month, including artist lectures, classes, workshops, virtual game nights and even a combo night for a yoga and yoga class. The city also hosts an annual two-week art festival called the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, where artists from all over the world showcase their work.
Hartford
European art galleries in the Morgan Building at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford.
Wadsworth Atheneum /
The Arts Council of Greater Hartford hosts many art events per week, including literary club meetings, exhibitions, behind-the-scenes tours, lectures, performances, and lessons. Hartford is home to the oldest continuously operating art museum in the country, the Wadsworth Museum. The town is also home to The Mark Twain House, the former home of one of America’s most beloved authors, Samuel L. Clemmons, also known as Mark Twain.
New Canaan
Jane McDonagh, a visual arts teacher at New Canaan High School, previously described the work done during one of the open houses of the “Capturing New Canaan” art exhibition at Carriage Barn Center for the Arts in Waveny Park on October 22. New Canaan Vice President for The Arts, Susie Lavery, writes this letter about all things Carriage Barn such as fairs and fundraising.
John Kovac / Hearst Connecticut Media
New Canaan is a great location for anyone looking to explore the intersection of arts and nature. The New Canaan Nature Center has inspired artists during the pandemic, and the adjacent Grace Farms Cultural Center brings together five initiatives—nature, arts, justice, community, and faith—in its humanitarian mission.
The city is also home to many cultural institutions such as the Philip Johnson Glass House, the Carriage Barn Center for the Arts, and the Silvermine Center for the Arts.