Founded in 1970 by the late great alto saxophonist Jackie McLean (who is the namesake of the jazz program at the local Hartt School, where he taught for decades) and his wife Dollie, the Artists’ Collective is a self-styled ‘interdisciplinary arts and cultural institution’, dedicated to the preservation of African-American culture through training in a multitude of artistic disciplines. The Collective was founded to give focus to low-income and at-risk youth in the greater Hartford area, offering after school programs as well as instruction in music, theater, dance and visual arts. By offering performances by important jazz artists of the past and present, the Collective aims to provide positive role models for its students and give exposure to often under-recognized musicians. Regularity of performances varies, but they always feature artists of the highest quality and importance in jazz history.

Artists Collective Information

• Public Transportation: Good (steps from CT Transit buses 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 74 at Albany Avenue/Woodland Street)
• Handicap Accessibility: Good
• Performances/Programs: Performance schedule is irregular, approximately 20 performances annually; educational and other activities occur more frequently and are listed on the website
• Ticket Prices: Varies widely ($0-$35), with discounts for advance ticket purchases and Collective membership.