Founded in 1919 as The Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall, The Bushnell officially opened its doors in 1930. For almost 90 years, The Bushnell has entertained, inspired, educated, and delighted millions of audience members, guests, and students.
Today, as Connecticut’s largest arts organization with audiences of 300,000 and an annual roster of over 450 events and performances, The Bushnell is an anchor for the performing arts, education, culture, and economic development, contributing to a more robust cultural, creative Connecticut economy. The Bushnell fulfills its tripartite mission (arts, education and community) through the following key activities:
*Showcase diverse, high-quality performing arts that are relevant to our 21st century audience, including The Bushnell's Broadway Series, Bushnell Children's Theatre, a Family Series, a Comedy Series, and other special events and performances
*Provide subsidies and a home to local arts and cultural groups, including the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Nutmeg Ballet, and The Connecticut Forum
*Make a difference for students through PARTNERS® (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), our nationally recognized, award-winning arts-integration program
*Use the arts to enrich and revitalize the Hartford community, serving as a participant, catalyst and leader in select community initiatives, such as the iQuilt (www.theiquiltplan.org)