And most of Connecticut knows this. What they also know is that, like most mid-size Northeast cities, New Haven has been struggling since the decline of manufacturing and the suburban boom. So in the last decade, the city has turned to the arts as a means of changing New Haven's image. Four consultants' reports have been geared toward improving the cultural climate as both an economic engine and a means of improving the city's image. It hit me one day a few months ago while thinking about some of the recommendations in these consultants' reports.
New Haven is a great city with many challenges.
It's not just humming. From the mainstream to the experimental, the arts community is singing in glorious, multi-part harmony. I ran this theory past long-time New Haven arts booster Bitsie Clark, who runs the Arts Council of Greater New Haven. To my surprise, Clark, who's been part of all the efforts to kick the arts in New Haven into a higher gear, agreed. It's an interesting way of looking at it.