Programs and Services
Our programs are intergenerational, multicultural and free whenever possible. We believe that creativity is essential to economic, professional, and social wellbeing for all.
Our approach is to W.I.R.E. West Haven for community engagement.
WELCOME. Regular communications and leadership gatherings orient residents and visitors to West Haven’s unique cultural offerings.
INVITE. In big and small ways, we make sure our neighbors get to know each other better, improving mental health and civic life.
REWARD. Technical assistance helps artists of all ages and stages of their development get hired, build marketable skills and deliver memorable events.
EMPOWER. Sharing our talents, family stories, cultural traditions, and differing perspectives on important issues helps creative West Haven thrive.
Make Music Day takes place the first day of summer, June 21.
All Nations Day takes place in the Fall.
In between, we run an Artists Lending Library, artist meetups, a rotating exhibition program, and First Friday art outings.
We also co-produce special events and remain available to others who need our cultural leadership.
Weekly office hours are for technical assistance and preparing volunteers to be effective.
Umbrella Impact -offers incentives for students in grades 4-8 from low to middle-income families to attend extracurricular programs. We share our office with them and work closely together on various projects.
Regional Chamber of Commerce -working on West Haven & Milford (WHAM) initiatives, with ArtsWestCT on its steering committee
West Haven Public Library -hosts workshops for artists and makers, a rotating exhibition program, and occasional special events.
Bridges Health Care -ArtsWestCT was invited to help prepare for the organization’s 2021 West Haven ribbon cutting, then supplied artwork for their new offices at 98 Elm St. purchased by the state Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services in 2022.
West Haven Early Childhood Council -ArtsWestCT coordinates an annual artist residency for a musician to interact with the children prior to Make Music Day.
West Haven Senior Center -Mary Lou Horan, Watercolor Instructor, and Christine Deihl, a member of the class, have gotten the senior’s artwork out into the community with ArtsWestCT’s help. Alyssa Maddern, Director of the Center, supports the expansion of these efforts.
West Haven Farmers Market -The Mayor’s Office requested assistance from ArtsWestCT to activate the market as a place where people experience vitality, connection and belonging.
West Haven United -organizes the City’s Halloween on the Green and Annual Tree Lighting.
University of New Haven’s Department of Communications, Film, & Media Studies -provides student volunteers and covers stories related to art and culture.
Music Back Then Performance Theater - Providing an affordable venue for a range of community groups, including ArtsWestCT for All Nations Day 2023.
Other arts groups and creative businesses function with us as a fluid consortium, demonstrating our community’s relational strengths.
