Interest in Connecticut Art Trail’s Passport-Journal program grew substantially in 2023 as more people embraced the opportunity to explore Connecticut’s world-class art museums, galleries, and cultural attractions.
There were a total of 880 Passport-Journal sales in 2023, a 79 percent increase compared to 2022. Of these transactions, 648 were sold as part of a year-end “buy one, get one” offer encouraging people to buy a Passport-Journal as a holiday gift. BOGO sales nearly doubled from the previous year, increasing 92 percent.
“The response to the Passport-Journal program has been amazing in the past year, and we’re excited that so many more people are signing up to see Connecticut’s incredible artistic attractions,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at Fairfield University Art Museum. “It’s especially heartening to see the growing popularity of the Passport-Journal as a unique holiday gift that opens the door to an entire year of new discoveries.”
Passport-Journal holders receive free admission to all Connecticut Art Trail sites for one year after purchase. Each site also offers additional benefits to holders, such as free gifts and museum store discounts.
The Passport-Journal can be purchased for $35 at any member site, or online at ctarttrail.org/passport.
Passport-Journal holders receive a sticker when they visit any Connecticut Art Trail site, and anyone who visits all 24 locations by Dec. 31st will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize giveaway. Delamar Hotels continues to partner with the Connecticut Art Trail to provide the grand prize of an overnight stay and a couples massage at the Delamar Hotel of the winner’s choice.
The Connecticut Art Trail is pleased to announce its expansion to 24 member museums and cultural sites in 2024 with the addition of Eastern Connecticut State University’s Art Gallery (Eastern Art Gallery). Additionally, The Carousel Museum and Five Points Arts join as affiliate members. The expansion brings new opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in the Trail’s unique Passport program — providing access to rich cultural and arts experiences throughout the state.
The Eastern Art Gallery has been the university’s on-campus cultural incubator for four decades. The museum features exhibitions of contemporary art intended to inspire students, faculty, and the community and has dedicated itself to advancing the school’s public liberal arts mission. Eastern Art Gallery provides exhibition programming with depth and relevance to multiple disciplines and a diverse campus and community audience.
“We are thrilled to announce Eastern Art Gallery as the 24th member of the Connecticut Art Trail and sixth location in eastern Connecticut,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at the Fairfield University Art Museum. “Eastern Art Gallery and the university are tremendous partners in championing our state’s incredible creative and cultural spaces. Also, the addition of The Carousel Museum and Five Points Arts as affiliate members further diversify the cultural landscape available to all Connecticut Art Trail Passport holders.”
The Art Trail’s expansion signifies an unwavering commitment to making art accessible to everyone. For $35 art enthusiasts can purchase a Passport at ctarttrail.org or a member museum. Good for the year, the Passport provides one-time admission to each of 24 locations – 24 museums and the two affiliate members. This affordability aligns perfectly with the rising trend of “third spaces” – welcoming environments outside of home and work where individuals can connect, relax, and engage in enriching low-cost or no-cost activities. With more than two dozen unique destinations to explore, the Connecticut Art Trail offers a tremendous opportunity for residents and visitors to tap into accessible cultural experiences in every corner of Connecticut.
Trail explorers can gain more than an enriching experience by visiting Connecticut Art Trail museums and cultural sites. With every sticker collected at a participating museum, Trail explorers are one step closer to being entered in a grand prize drawing. Collect all 24 unique stickers and drop the completed Passport off at your final museum destination to be eligible for an overnight stay for two at the Delamar West Hartford — complete with a couples massage.
The Connecticut Art Trail is offering a special promotion for the holiday season, inviting anyone who purchases a Connecticut Art Trail Passport-Journal to receive a second at no charge.
The Passport-Journal is a signature offering of the Connecticut Art Trail, granting the holder free admission to all 24 member museums and cultural sites on the Trail for one year. It also provides a variety of other perks, including discounts, free admission for guests, and complimentary gifts.
“The Passport-Journal is the best way to experience the Connecticut Art Trail, offering a great incentive to explore our state’s rich artistic offerings,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at Fairfield University Art Museum. “The buy one, get one offer invites people to take full advantage of the Passport-Journal’s benefits, giving them an opportunity to experience the Trail as a family.”
Delamar Hotels will again sponsor a grand prize giveaway in 2024, offering an overnight stay and 60-minute couple’s massage at a Delamar Hotel location chosen by the winner. Anyone who visits all Connecticut Art Trail sites and returns a completed Passport-Journal is eligible for a drawing for this prize.
The Passport-Journal includes information on each member of the Connecticut Art Trail as well as sections for holders to take notes, record their favorite places and best moments, and sketch a favorite location or piece of art. It can be purchased online or in person at any member location for $35.
The buy one, get one deal is available from November 15th through December 30th. Anyone can redeem this offer by setting the quantity of Passport-Journals they would like to purchase at two; they will only be charged for one Passport-Journal at checkout.
The Connecticut Art Trail has launched a new campaign encouraging people to take advantage of the autumn season by mapping out adventures at the state’s art museums.
“Map It Out” invites residents and visitors to experience the Connecticut Art Trail by seeing multiple museums in a single day or weekend. The organization is sharing routes that highlight museums in close proximity, posting suggestions for these trips on its social media channels. The campaign also highlights individual museums, encouraging people to include them on their itinerary during fall trips.
“Connecticut’s landscapes have been inspiring artists for years, and it’s a particularly popular time for people to enjoy the changing scenery before the chilly winter months arrive,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at Fairfield University Art Museum. “Many of our member museums are just a short drive away from one another, making it easy to spend a full day experiencing some of Connecticut’s great cultural attractions.”
Map It Out is also a way to help all holders of the Connecticut Art Trail’s Passport-Journal to complete this document before the end of the year. The Passport-Journal grants free admission to all member museums on the Trail for one year after purchase. Anyone who visits all of these museums during the calendar year is eligible for a grand prize giveaway of an overnight stay for two and couples massage at the Delamar Hotel of their choice.
Passport-Journals are available for purchase on the Connecticut Art Trail website or at any member museum for $35.
With hotter-than-average temperatures expected this summer, the Connecticut Art Trail is kicking off the summer with a “Keep Your Cool” campaign.
The 23 member museums and cultural sites on the Connecticut Art Trail are hosting a wide variety of programs throughout the summer, including artistic courses, musical performances, book clubs, film screenings, scavenger hunts, and yoga. There are also several seasonal festivals returning this summer.
The Connecticut Art Trail is promoting these events as a way for residents and visitors to enjoy enriching and interesting activities while escaping the summer heat. Forecasts are predicting with high probability that temperature across New England will be higher than average this year, with a significant likelihood of an above-average number of rain events as well.
“It’s always a great time to visit one of the sites on the Connecticut Art Trail, but they can be particularly inviting during a hot summer,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at Fairfield University Art Museum. “Our museums provide wonderful programming and exhibitions in comfortable air-conditioned galleries during sweltering days or rainy days, or a great way to wind down after a hot day at the beach.”
The Connecticut Art Trail is again offering its Passport-Journal program (formerly known as the Passport) offering free admission to all member sites along with other perks. The Passport-Journal can be purchased for $35 at any member site or online at ctarttrail.org. Anyone who visits all 23 sites in a calendar year is eligible for a grand prize giveaway of an overnight stay for two and a one-hour couples massage at the Delamar Hotel of their choice.
Some special summer events on the Connecticut Art Trail include:
- Music on the Great Lawn, June 22 – August 31, Greenwich Historical Society: A weekly performance of local musicians at the great lawn and gardens of the Greenwich Historical Society.
- Arazzo Music Festival, June 24, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art: The season finale of the Arazzo Music Festival includes an exciting evening of chamber music centered around Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No. 2, Op. 87 and Paul Wiancko’s American Haiku.
- Norwalk Arts Festival at MoCA, June 24-25, MoCA Westport: This two-day festival features a juried art and craft festival and an international food court.
- Connecticut Historic Gardens Day, June 25: Several sites on the Connecticut Art Trail are recognizing this occasion, including Florence Griswold Museum, Hill-Stead Museum, and Weir Farm National Historic Park.
- Art Summer Nights, July 13 and August 10, New Britain Museum of American Art: These special Thursday evening events include activities like live music, lawn games, artist talks, and craft workshops.
- From the Porch, July 17 – August 30, Hill-Stead Museum: A summer series featuring opera, dance, and song. Bring a chair or blanket to set up in the sunken garden and enjoy the show!
- Guild Summer Salon, July 22 – August 24, Silvermine Arts Center: An annual exhibition celebrating works by the Silvermine Guild of Artists in painting, sculpting, printmaking, mixed media, and fiber art.
- Midsummer Festival, July 28-29, Florence Griswold Museum: As part of Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival, the Florence Griswold Museum is hosting a concert by The Savage Brothers, a “Parading Paws” dog show, free art exhibitions, and a sale on gift items.
- A Summer Miscellany From the Collection, through August 26, University of St. Joseph Art Museum: This exhibition includes a range of summer scenes from the museum’s collection, including seascapes, drawings, photography, and portraits.
The Connecticut Art Trail is excited to announce that it has been approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This status will allow the Trail to pursue new grants, improve its online presence, and better promote the rich assets Connecticut residents and visitors can experience by visiting its 22 member museums.
The Internal Revenue Service has classified the Connecticut Art Trail as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation. This status exempts the Trail from federal income tax; enables donors to deduct contributions made to the organization; and allows the organization to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts.
“This marks an exciting new chapter for the Connecticut Art Trail,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at Fairfield University Art Museum. “Becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit opens the door to more funding opportunities, which will allow us to do more to encourage people to experience all that our world-class museums have to offer.”
As a nonprofit, the Connecticut Art Trail can apply for grant funds that were previously unavailable. Using this increased eligibility for funding, organizers are planning to develop a more robust and user-friendly website that will allow visitors to browse a comprehensive calendar of events at its member museums and learn more about their exhibits and programming.
“Museums have been ramping up their in-person events and programs after a lengthy period of virtual offerings, and we want to make people aware of the rich cultural opportunities on the Connecticut Art Trail,” said Cybele Maylone, Vice President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Executive Director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. “We’re thrilled to explore new ways to help our museums connect with visitors.”
In addition to strengthening its digital presence, the Connecticut Art Trail will use its nonprofit status to bolster its marketing efforts. Doing so will promote more visits to its member museums, centers and galleries while also promoting our state as an arts and culture destination.
A robust arts sector serves as a significant economic driver, with benefits to the overall community and its businesses. In 2016, the Connecticut Office of the Arts concluded that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations generated $455.5 million in economic activity in Connecticut and supported more than 18,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
By adding to the cultural identity of a community, arts organizations make Connecticut’s towns and cities a more attractive place for both residents and visitors. They help improve property values and support the regional tax base, while also encouraging tourism and spending at other nearby businesses and attractions.
The museums on the Connecticut Art Trail also have been a major resource for schools, offering professional development opportunities for teachers and group visits to students. For example, the Bruce Museum reports that an average of 25,000 schoolchildren visit its exhibits each year on field trips. The museums also offer opportunities for enrichment and entertainment through events such as art programs, family festivals, and lectures.
“Becoming a 501(c)(3) organization isn’t just great news for our museums, but also for the communities they serve,” said Lisa Lappe, Secretary of the Connecticut Art Trail and Director of Marketing at New Britain Museum of Art. “We’re looking forward to supporting the Connecticut Art Trail sites in the coming years as they continue to add value to the economic strength of our state and its high quality of life.”
Visitors can explore the sites on the Connecticut Art Trail by purchasing the Art Trail Passport, either online or in person, to receive free admission to all 22 member museums for one year after purchase. The $35 purchase, which directly supports the Trail, unlocks more than $150 in value through museum admissions, discounts, gifts, and other benefits. Those who visit every site on the Trail are currently eligible for a grand prize giveaway for an overnight stay for two and a one-hour couples massage at the Delamar Hotel of their choice.
About the Connecticut Art Trail
The Connecticut Art Trail is a partnership of 22 world-class museums and cultural sites, created to promote Connecticut’s rich cultural assets to residents and visitors. It was originally established in 1995 as a collaborative highlighting Connecticut’s role in inspiring Impressionist artists in the early 20th century, but has since expanded its scope in order to encompass the diversity of the state’s collections and to reach a broader audience. The organization also runs the Art Trail Passport program, which grants access to all member museums for one year from purchase date.
###