New Haven cultural leaders and city officials have announced a packed summer lineup of events, festivals and opportunities to get out and see what the city has to offer.
“A preview of what’s to come,” said Adriane Jefferson, Elm City Arts, Culture and Tourism Director.
On Tuesday, they announced a lineup of summer events and programs that will feature arts and culture from across New Haven and will take place throughout the summer months.
“Increased access to the arts, increased number of diverse events,” Jefferson said.
The ad showed a cross-section of cultures and backgrounds. Jefferson said the biggest recent push is collaboration.
“Right now, with art and culture, we have to get out of our silos in order to thrive,” he said.
Leaders of organizations and cities mentioned the Puerto Rican festival in August as an example.
“As a Puerto Rican and a queer person, living in New Haven is wonderful because we support all people and I don’t feel like I have to choose who I am,” said Juancarlos Soto, director of the Pride Center in New Haven. who also serves on the board of directors of Puerto Ricans United.
The festival is expected to draw more than 20,000 people to the New Haven Green and this year the musical acts will be headlined by Manny Manuel and Luis Figueroa, along with six other local artists.
Organizers have been working with other local groups and the city to show everyone what the Elm City has to offer.
“That’s something that New Haven is really good at, when you come to New Haven, when you’re in New Haven, no matter where you end up as far as race, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, you feel accepted,” Soto said .
Arts and cultural leaders also presented a lineup of other summer events across the city, including Black Wall Street. This is an opportunity for locally owned Black businesses to sell directly to the community and events at CITA Park, a biergarten and event space built around Black and Brown culture.
“Arts and culture really drive the economy, they really do,” Jefferson said.
All beneficial for the organizations and the city in general.
“It’s a great thing for our small businesses and for our residents and for people who don’t even live in the city but come to visit,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.
Elicker said the summer program’s investments in the city’s arts and culture come back in tangible ways…
“It also creates a vibrant community so that more people want to be a part of New Haven, more people want to live here and more people want to visit here and that has obvious economic benefits for many years to come,” he said. Elicker.
City leaders also say events and programs during the busy summer season will continue to solidify New Haven as a state and national cultural center.
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