Members-Only Events:
exclusive gatherings, just for you.

RSVP for member events: Jasmine Wagner, Membership Coordinator (860.232.1006 ext. 115)

We're planning a series of events throughout the year to say a little extra "thank you" to you, our members.

Past member events have included:

• Exclusive sneak peeks before the opening of major exhibitions
• Artist talks, including a walk-and-talk with Laura Nova
• Members-only brunches
  

We offer several different donor levels:

Benefactor: $10,000+

Make a REAL difference as a Real Art Ways Benefactor. Learn more.

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Sponsor: $5,000

This level for people who really, really like us – and it really, really helps!

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Patron: $2500

Make a REAL difference as a Real Art Ways Benefactor at the $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 levels.

Read more about giving at the Benefactor level in the Benefactor tab above.

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Sustainer: $1,000

This level for people who really, really like us – and it really, really helps!

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Supporter: $500

When we get a $500 donation, we all gather together and let out a cheer!

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Contributor: $250

This lets us, and everyone who comes here, know that you care.

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Friend: $100

This demonstrates your commitment to Real Art Ways.

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Family/Household Membership: $75

This gives the member benefits to you and everyone you live with.

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Individual Membership: $50

This is our basic, "it's just me and I want to be a part of it" membership with benefits for one person.

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Visit Real Art Ways' secure pledge page and become a member today!

Membership donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Sponsorship Opportunity:
Real Art Ways turns 35

Coinciding with Executive Director Will K. Wilkins’s twentieth year of service, Real Art Ways looks back on 35 years as a key component of Hartford’s cultural scene and an important player in the contemporary art world. [learn more]

If you or your company are interested in sponsoring any aspect of the 35th Anniversary programming, contact Meghan Maguire Dahn (860-232-1006 x109).

• Real Art Ways: 35th Anniversary Celebration
  

Major Corporate and Foundation Supporters Include:

• Greater Hartford Arts Council's United Arts Campaign
  
• Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
  
• Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism
  
• The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
  
• National Endowment for the Arts
  
• The Wallace Foundation
  
• Ford Foundation
  
• United Technologies
  
• Travelers Foundation
  
• Bank of America
  
• Institute of Museum and Library Services
  
• Aetna
  
• Lincoln Financial Group
  
• Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation
  
• Target

Important Corporate and Foundation Supporters Include:

• Joseph S. Stackpole Charitable Trust
• Ensworth Charitable Trust
• Alexander A. Goldfarb Memorial Trust
  
• City of Hartford
  
• Hartford Courant Foundation
  
• Larsen Fund
  
• Ellis A. Gimbel Trust
  
• Knox Foundation
  
• New England Foundation for the Arts
  
• The J. Walton Bissell Foundation
  
• Helen M. Saunders Charitable Foundation
  
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts
  
• Fisher Foundation
• The Reed Foundation, Inc.
  
• George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation
  
• Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund
  
• NewAlliance Foundation
• National Performance Network – Visual Arts Network
  
• Kohn-Joseloff Foundation
  
• F.A. Hesketh & Associates
  
• Northland Investment Corp./Hartford 21
  
• Pullman & Comley LLC
  
• It's Only Natural Restaurant
  
• AM Lithography Inc.
• The Phoenix Companies, Inc
• The Grunberg Family Foundation
• The Mochary Foundation
• The Artist Resource Trust
• Charney Architects
• The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc.

Real Art Ways receives generous in-kind support from:

• Adams Ahearn Sign Solutions
• Keiler & Co.
• Jeff Cowie
• Catherine Blinder
• Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative
• Ascot Catering
• Dean Batchelder
• Champlin-Packrite
• Ciroc
• Cummings & Good
• Dick Blick Art Materials
• Laschphoto
• Frank Marchese and Scott Van Sicklin
• New Mass Media
• Blue Moon
• Michael Shortell Framing
• Winebow
• Westside Properties, Inc.

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BUILDING SUPPORT

A Special Thanks to the Major Supporters ($50,000+) towards the Development of the Real Art Ways Arts Center:

• City of Hartford/Community Development Block Grants
• City of Hartford/Hartford Economic
• Development Commission
• Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
• Heublein, Inc.
• State of Connecticut

A Special Thanks to Key Supporters ($25,000-$49,999) towards the Development of the Arts Center:

• Fleet Bank
  
• The Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation

A Special Thanks to Supporters ($10,000-$24,999) towards the Development of the Arts Center:

• The Hartford Courant Foundation
  
• J. Walton Bissell Foundation
  
• Nicholas & Liz Georgakopoulos
  
• Robinson & Nancy Grover
  
• Janet & Christopher Larsen
  
• Ian & Lynn Stuart

A Special Thanks to Donors ($5,000-$9,999) towards the Development of the Arts Center:

• Anonymous
  
• Ensworth Charitable Trust
  
• George & Grace Long Foundation
  
• Helen M. Saunders Charitable Foundation
  
• Philip & Robin Schonberger
  
• Peter Hirschl & Lisa Silvestri
  
• Alexander A. Goldfarb Memorial Trust
  
• United Technologies
  
• Gary E. West

A Special Thanks for the Generous In-Kind Support of:

• Charney Architects for designing our arts center
  
• East-West Builders for building it
  
• The Trinity College Smart Neighborhood Initiative
  
• Acorn Consulting Engineers
  
• Jim Grant Associates
  
• Hartford Structures
  
• Catherine Blinder
  
• Jeff Cowie
  
• Bobbie Emery & Anne Foss
  
• Paul & Gerry Sciarra
  
• Lisa Silvestri
  
• Frank Marchese
  
• Scott Van Sicklin

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR GENEROUS BENEFACTORS:

• Sandy & Howard Fromson
• Rich Charney
• Gary E. West
• Marjorie Morrissey
• Stephen B. Fields
• Robinson & Nancy Grover
• Michael Grunberg
• Jean G. Sanderson
• James Bridgeman
• Audrey Conrad
• Peter Grzybala & Diane Korntheuer
• Ann Z. Leventhal
• Robin Roncari

 

VISUAL ARTS BENEFACTOR

• Support the imagination, innovation, and creativity of artists through exhibitions in one of the country’s most successful alternative spaces
• Stimulate dialogue, interaction, free expression, and exchange of ideas

Visual Arts benefactors are invited to meet artists and curators at four private benefactor receptions per year

FILM BENEFACTOR

• Support Real Art Ways’ Cinema, a film festival year round, showcasing international and independent films seven nights a week
• Contribute to special programming, including meet-the-filmmaker nights, Family Fest, film discussions, and Film Fieldtrips for students and seniors

Film benefactors are invited to host their own private cinema
party to screen a film of their choice each year

EDUCATION BENEFACTOR

• Support children’s access to the arts and educational enrichment
• Provide for hands-on programs like ParkArt, Family Fest, and Film Fieldtrips

Education benefactors are invited to the annual ParkArt party and a special Film Fieldtrip event to meet participating students and fellow benefactors

Planned Giving

Your membership support is what has sustained Real Art Ways - and allowed us to thrive - through the years. Please consider leaving us a gift in your will. See Leave a Legacy for more information about how you can plan these important contributions.

Non-profit organizations like Real Art Ways need financial assistance from people like you to continue their work. More than 80% of Americans contribute to the nonprofit groups of their choice throughout their lifetimes. But according to research conducted in 2000, only around eight percent of people chose to continue this support through a charitable bequest.

By making bequests and other "planned gifts," you can continue to help organizations that are making an important difference in your community.

Charitable Statistics: An Untapped Well of Good

• There are more than 260 million Americans, of whom approximately two million die each year.
• In 1996, 79,346 estate tax forms were filed with the federal government. (At the time, these forms were required for estates in excess of $600,000.)
• 18% of the forms listed a charitable gift.
  
• In other words, 82% of the nation's wealthiest individuals left nothing to charity.
  
• In addition, the IRS tells us that charity is getting a decreasing share of the money in these wealthy estates, from 21.8% in 1976 to 6.3% in 1992.
  
• According to a 2004 Associated Press news story, only 42% of adults have wills, a five percent drop since 2000.

Read stories from donors who have planned gifts, about the different ways in which you can give, and the difference you can make on the Leave a Legacy site.

Contact Jasmine Wagner if you to discuss making a planned gift to Real Art Ways.

Matching Gifts Item

Does your company match employees' contributions to charitable organizations? Your membership or benefactor contribution to Real Art Ways is tax-deductible and eligible for matching gift programs. Please remember to send us your company's matching gift form with your annual contribution!