Artists of Color Accelerate works to engage and elevate the practices of homegrown creatives.

Our vision is through this work, Hartford will become known as a community that produces and exports cutting-edge cultural arts.

ABOUT:

A project of The 224 EcoSpace (a social enterprise of The Conference of Churches), Artists of Color Accelerate is an extension of our mission to create and elevate community spaces for arts and culture. Made possible by a generous grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s ‘Artists of Color Unite!’ advisory group, Artists of Color Accelerate partners ten artists-who serve as fellows with ten organizations that will host them to develop artistic ventures of community significance.  

Tasked with co-creating a unique individual project highlighting their abilities with the organization they are paired with, the fellows receive an honorarium and support for professional and business development. In addition to these elements, the program offers “Master Classes,” - seminar sessions led by master artists and other professionals in the arts whom achieved high levels of success across the country and abroad. With these tools, the AOCA empowers fellows and the Greater Hartford arts community to be cultural ambassadors whose work contributes to the elevation of Hartford as a distinct arts and culture center despite systemic barriers.