Our Community
The Bushnell is so much more than the theater itself. Both the majesty of the Mortensen, the intimacy of the Belding. It is much more about the spirit of the organization and the fact that it is such a leader in the community.
We provide for the community a place where families can learn about the arts, where teachers and students can progress in the arts and I think that's very unique, that we can do both things at once and do both with great excellence.
At The Bushnell, it's like a family for me of artists who have a passion for the arts and have a passion for giving their knowledge back to young people. And it's so important because kids in Hartford don't get that regularly.
There tends to be a lot of shutting out of lower-class people within art, and the fact that someone has been gracious enough to give us an opportunity, especially from someone who does come from a lower class family, I think it's a huge opportunity. Without The Bushnell, this would not be happening. Thousands and thousands of kids would not have experienced anything out of just a certain rigid realm and they would not understand the creative world and its benefits.
The arts are important to me because they help me learn, they help us communicate in different ways, express my emotions. Performing teaches me skills to talk in front of people and also confidence. So students are very excited to come today.
I'm proud to see what the inner city from Connecticut can perform and put on for us. It gives students an opportunity to support and uplift each other artistically and creatively and that's an incredibly important thing. That sense of community that really, really comes through from being in here is fantastic.
Walking onto a stage like this and seeing levels upon levels upon levels of seats - just being like, "Wow! This is happening." As soon as we started rehearsing and just hearing the drums and everything just come at me for the first time I'm like, "Oh my God!" And I got so excited and my heart just started to race. Just the adrenaline of it was so cool. I want to say thank you. I'm 14 years old and it's crazy being here.
Our participation with The Bushnell has been a game changer for both of my children. I've spent the last four or five years with the joy of music in our household and it was all fostered really by our participation with The Bushnell.
You know, I think The Bushnell is a stabilizer for the community because so much happens here and there's so much that can happen still.
It's fun to go to the theater because there's music and lights and it’s so fancy. My favorite part about today was spending time with my grandma a little more. I love The Bushnell because I love spending time with my family. To see our two girls completely be enveloped in it, it's been really amazing. It's this beautiful tradition that they're growing up in. It's just become a part of the fiber of our lives. The Bushnell is tradition, legacy, and heart. This is something we can really latch on to as a family.
If we didn't have The Bushnell we'd be in big trouble. The Bushnell brings so many different kinds of people together. The Bushnell is a real center for the Hartford community.