Based in Hartford's North End community, the Artists Collective is the only multi-arts cultural organization of its kind in Connecticut which emphasizes the cultural and artistic contributions of the African American/ African Diaspora, and exposes its students and the community at large to great and often overlooked artists of the past and present. The Collective offers training in the performing arts to children and adults by a highly skilled professional staff of working artists. Workshops are structur
ed to develop youth awareness of cultural identity and self-esteem through positive accomplishments and self-discipline.
The Artists Collective presents a variety of special events to the public which include concerts by world-renowned jazz artists, master jazz sessions, tribute concerts, productions from the dance and drama departments, and visual arts exhibits. Yaboo, a rite of passage ceremony based on African tradition, has been presented annually since 1976.
The Artists Collective has collaborated with the Hartford Public Schools on a model program in dance, drama and music and an all-city High School jazz band. The program is being continued through the regular after school training workshops with funding from the National Endowment Expansion Arts Program and the Department of Children and Youth Services.
The Artist Collective was a recipient of the prestigious State of Connecticut Arts Award for service and excellence in the arts. In 1993 the Artists Collective was chosen as one of six community art centers nation-wide to participate in Project Co-Arts, a research initiative based at Harvard Project Zero, Harvard University. The Collective and one other organization have been asked to continue to work with Project Co-Arts in the next assessment phase of this initiative.
The Artists Collective will be taking a major step forward with its new $7.9 million building project expressly designed to meet the needs of the Collective's programs. The facility will be located in the Upper Albany Avenue North End section of Hartford and will be a key component of the economic development of this area and the City of Hartford.
