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History

Celebrating Forty Years of Artistic Excellence

Since 1985, the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts - Half Day has brought together emerging artists from across the capital region for intensive arts training in a culturally diverse environment as part of students’ public school education.

The 2026-27 school year celebrates the Academy’s 41st anniversary! From its humble roots, occupying a former funeral parlor in Hartford’s South End, the Academy moved to its current home in 2001 as the cornerstone of Hartford’s new 16-acre Learning Corridor Campus. The new facility features specialized spaces for professional arts performance and instruction, including two theaters, a recital hall, nine dance studios, and a visual arts gallery. 

To provide greater arts education opportunities to high school students in the region, CREC began to expand magnet arts offerings in 2008. Today, the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Full-Day High School offers an arts-themed education. At the same time, the Arts Academy Half-Day Program remains the original pre-professional, public arts conservatory. 

Over the years, the Academy has received multiple recognitions, including:

  • “National Magnet School of Excellence” from Magnet Schools of America 
  • “Outstanding Arts School” Award from Art Schools Network
  • “Best Magnet School” by Hartford Magazine readers
  • “Pride in Education” Award from Connecticut Voice
The image shows a large group of performers in a chorus line, dressed in similar costumes, standing on a stage with the title %22A Chorus Line%22 displayed above them.
The image is a promotional poster for a performance of the musical %22Cats%22 by the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. The poster features two large cat eyes in the foreground against a black background, with the title %22CATS%22 prominently displayed.
A dramatic scene of chaos and destruction in a city street, with buildings in the background and people and vehicles in the foreground.
The image depicts a large cruise ship or ocean liner with the text %22ANYTHING GOES%22 prominently displayed above it, set against a blue background with clouds.
The image is a promotional poster for a production of the Broadway musical %22Hairspray%22 presented by the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. The poster features the show's title in large text, along with the performance dates and the CREC logo in the background.
The image features the logo for the Connecticut Voice Honors, which celebrates bold and visionary leaders within the Connecticut LGBTQ+ community. The logo is prominently displayed in the center, surrounded by a golden circular border and a black background with scattered golden dots.
The image is the front page of the Hartford Courant newspaper, featuring the %22Best of Hartford%22 readers' poll title in large text.
The image depicts a circular seal or emblem featuring a large gold star in the center, surrounded by a border with the text %22MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA NATIONAL AWARD OF MERIT EXCELLENCE%22 and a decorative pattern of stars.
The image displays the text %22Arts Schools Network%22 with the text %22award winner%22 above and below it, indicating that this organization has received an award for being an %22Outstanding Arts School%22.