The arts in Greater New Haven range from world-class to the downright quirky, and we love it all. As the home of Yale University, we have access (often free thanks to the generosity of alumni and other donors) to collections selected from literally millions of paintings, sculptures, coins, books and manuscripts.
For the best of the best, start at the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery. YCBA holds the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom. Their extensive collection includes works by J. M. W. Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, George Stubbs, Joseph Wright, and John Constable. Paintings and sculptures by Josef Albers, Edgar Degas, Joan Miró, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, and Roy Lichtenstein are just some of the highlights at the Yale University Art Gallery.
Smaller galleries throughout the region showcase the painting, pottery, sculpture and jewelry created by local artists.
Annual events include the two-week extravaganza of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas (June 12-26), country fairs, craft festivals, summer concert series and Open Source Festival. July 15-17, the Guilford Art Center celebrates Craft Expo, celebrating the arts with its extensive array of handmade crafts by 180 nationally-recognized American artists.
Theater-goers can catch both traditional and progressive shows at the Shubert, Yale Repertory and Long Wharf theaters in New Haven.