|
About Us
Charter Oak Cultural Center is a rare and wonderful
place. Built in 1876, the state's first synagogue has
always been a symbol of the sacred struggle for the
freedom of religious and cultural expression. Restored
by a group of Hartford-area residents, Charter Oak
Cultural Center is now a non-profit arts resource for
the exploration of the world's cultures, especially
those strongly represented in the Hartford region. It is
home to a beautiful gallery and an extraordinary
performance space. Through exhibitions, performances,
in-school programs, lectures and workshops, the Center
is providing the residents of the neighborhood, the
greater Hartford area and the state with the opportunity
to learn, celebrate, and understand a diversity of
cultures.
To arrange building tours please call 860-249-1207 or send us an email.
Mission
 The Charter
Oak Cultural Center, long an arts showcase for
Hartford's diverse communities, offers multicultural
arts and education programming in its restored landmark
building, Connecticut's first synagogue.
The mission of Charter Oak Cultural Center is actually
three-fold:
-
To preserve and celebrate the Jewish heritage of the
building
-
To be a place known for making readily available
performing and visual arts that reflect the
multi-cultural community in which Charter Oak is blessed
to be located
-
To do the work of social justice, which we see as not
being separate from , but part and parcel of, both the
Jewish heritage of the building and of the desire to
make sure that the arts are accessible to all who wish
to enjoy them.
 History
Even though the first mention of a Jewish presence in
Hartford occurs in court records dating back to 1659, it
wasn't until 1843 that a special enactment of the
Connecticut Legislature provided that Jews wishing to
form religious societies had the same rights, powers,
and privileges as Christians. Hartford's first
synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel, whose founders had
petitioned the State to pass that special legislative
act, was established that year. The first location of
the congregation was at 942 Main Street. It was known as
Touro Hall, but was originally the North Baptist Church.
The congregation remained at the location from 1856 to
1876. In 1876, Congregation Beth Israel constructed its
own synagogue at 21 Charter Oak Avenue. It remained
there until 1936 when it moved to its present site at
701 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. The Charter Oak
Temple Restoration Association saved Connecticut's
oldest synagogue structure from demolition. The building
has recently been restored as a multi-cultural arts
center. The Center presents musical concerts, dance
performances, theatrical productions, lectures, art
exhibitions as well as Jewish programming. The Center
also offers numerous workshops for children and adults
covering a broad range of cultural activities including
drumming, dance, drama and music. Holiday celebrations
are also on the list of cultural activities here. Come
visit us, and see the ongoing gallery exhibits and
events that fill this beautiful and unique building.
|
