ARTS & CULTURE

There’s no lack of opportunity for cultural pursuits. The Norwich Arts District is home to two off Broadway genre theaters and 600 square feet of exhibition space for visual arts displays. A short walk up the street is Slater Museum with unique paintings and castings; a short walk in the other direction is the newly renovated public library.

Donald Oat Theater
Owned and operated by the Norwich Arts Council, The Donald L.Oat Theater is a restored Victorian style theater located in the Chelsea Arts District of downtown Norwich. The theater is set up cabaret style, with tables of eight. Water, Coffee, Tea, and some snacks are available for purchase at most events. See the Norwich Arts Council web page for more information.

Spirit of Broadway
Located in the arts district of downtown the Spirit of Broadway Theater houses an 80-seat black-box theater offering off-Broadway and regional theater scripts as well as new works for the stage. They use professional, amateur and local inexperienced talent, and offer a mix of musical, dramatic and comedic productions, including first-time offerings.

Norwich Arts Council
Was formed in 1987 to provide “…affordable cultural enrichment through diverse visual, literary, and performing arts programs and events” The council maintains over 600 square feet of exhibition space and supports the performing arts with programming at the Donald Oat Theater and the First Friday and Summer Gazebo Music Performances.

Slater Memorial Museum
Located on the campus of Norwich Free Academy, the Slater Museum offers a rich and diverse experience in art and history. The Museum displays examples of fine and decorative art, representing a broad range of world cultures The Slater's local collection represents 300 years of Norwich history. Included are 18th - 20th century American paintings and decorative arts, contemporary Connecticut crafts, 17th - 19th century European paintings and decorative arts, African and Oceanic sculpture, Native American objects, and a plaster cast collection of Egyptian, Archaic, Greek, Roman and Renaissance sculpture. The adjacent Converse Art Gallery hosts six changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Otis Library
Located on Main Street, the library has recently undergone a $9 million renovation and expansion. Patrons can borrow from a collection of more than 100,000 items; take advantage of free internet access, video and audio downloads; and a new auditorium for community events and young patron programs and resources.

Norwich Historical Society
Formed in 2001, the Norwich Historical Society Inc. seeks to preserve, protect, and promote the rich history of Norwich, CT  For more information or to become a member visit their web page.

If you have a current web page, are part of Norwich’s Arts & Culture community, and would like to be here too contact admin@askncdc.com