We are excited to announce our new business venture…

BIEN VENUE Event Rentals!

Hartford Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator matched $30,000! Help us reach the balance needed to launch this exciting new venture.

Click Here to Help Us Reach Our Goal

The goal of BIEN VENUE is to

generate sustainable income while

furthering Charter Oak’s mission of

doing the work of social justice

through the arts. This venture will

directly support Charter Oak as we

grow to serve more people. Your

investment in BIEN VENUE is an

investment in the future of Charter

Oak Cultural Center.

Overview

To launch BIEN VENUE, Charter Oak must raise $102,600 in startup capital.

Help Us Reach Our Goal!

We reached Hartford Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator $30,000 matching goal in September! Help us reach the balance of our startup capital.

Contribute Today!

As we all know, times are tough for non-profits. The need is greater, prices are higher and the number of resources smaller. To continue to serve people, expand our programming, and enroll more students—there are 250 young people on the City School of the Arts waiting list—we must seek new funding sources. Thanks to the Hartford Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator, we’re launching a new venture called BIEN VENUE to boost our revenue and support our programming. BIEN VENUE rentals will directly support Charter Oak as we grow to serve more people.

We reached Hartford Foundation’s $30,000 matching goal – now you can help us reach the balance of our startup capital!

As author Michael Brown writes:

“Love isn’t something achieved through merit. We don’t qualify for love. Love just is. Love is our birthright…”

Love is what Charter Oak is about, from our classes to our performances and exhibits to this social enterprise. That is why we have chosen to call our venture BIEN VENUE, because, like everything else at Charter Oak, it is about offering a big, loving welcome to everyone.

It is hard to find affordable, fully accessible event spaces that offer warmth, beauty and historic charm. Many existing venues are either cost-prohibitive or lack the unique atmosphere guests seek.

We’ve got the solution! BIEN VENUE Event Rentals at Charter Oak!

We’re seeking startup funding for our venture:

Staffing – $48,000
Technology – $25,000
Equipment and Supplies – $9,100
Marketing and Communications – $10,000
Contingency Fund – $10,000
Total Needed – $102,600

With your support, and the help of Hartford Foundation and an anonymous donor, we have already raised $70K! We need to raise an additional $32,600 to help us launch BIEN VENUE!

Events needing rental space include:

Meetings
Retreats
Lifecycle Events
Luncheons
Fundraisers and Galas
Parties
Weddings

Advantages of Charter Oak:

An approach that reflects our mission
Unique, historic setting
Flexible space options
Sensitivity to community needs
Central location

Our unique offerings:

Affordable rates
Newly renovated and state-of-the-art facilities
Arts programming available to enhance an event

BIEN VENUE will directly support Charter Oak as we grow to serve more people. Your investment in BIEN VENUE is an investment in the future of Charter Oak Cultural Center.

Please add your support now. Thanks to Hartford Foundation’s generosity and an anonymous donor, we’ve raised $70K! Your gift can help us reach our $102,600 goal!

Hartford Foundation Social Enterprise Program Boosts Nonprofits’ Earned Income Potential

Read about how Hartford Foundation’s up to $120,000 in matching gifts will fuel four organizations’ social enterprises…

Our Plans

Charter Oak Cultural Center offers beautiful rental space options in an historic building for those seeking a unique and memorable event. Unlike typical rental venues, Charter Oak Cultural Center offers exquisite space imbued with the energy of a deep commitment to social justice.

Our newly renovated facilities will include:

A grand performance space with soaring ceilings and intricate architectural detail, perfect for large gatherings, luncheons, live performances and exhibits
Smaller, more intimate classroom spaces suitable for workshops, meetings or breakout sessions
State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment to support various event needs
Flexible staging areas for performances or presentations
A lovely gallery space perfect for luncheons or meetings enjoyed while surrounded by beautiful art
Outdoor areas, including a magnificent courtyard that doubles as a performance space
A kitchen that includes all that is required to prepare delicious meals and/or hors d’oeuvres
Full accessibility including ramps, automated doors and bathroom facilities all designed to ensure that all guests can enjoy our space comfortably.

Clients will also have the option of enhancing their experience by incorporating into their event a taste of what Charter Oak does: a short performance, an art workshop, a brief talk on the history of the building and its social justice work. Charter Oak Cultural Center provides a truly unique experience that goes beyond traditional venue rental options.

Our Roadmap

Charter Oak Cultural Center is launching Bien Venue Event Rentals to address Hartford’s growing demand for affordable, accessible spaces for events and to generate income to support its mission of doing the work of social justice through the arts. Both of our historic buildings provide options for gatherings, meetings, events of various sizes. The renovated Charter Oak Cultural Center will offer brand new possibilities.

Phase 1:
Near-Term Expansion (2026)

Beginning in September 2025, we will offer rental opportunities in our recently acquired and newly renovated building, The Hyde-St. John House, built in 1858. This space will serve as a versatile venue for smaller meetings, retreats, workshops and community gatherings. Designed to be budget-friendly and flexible, this building will immediately provide much-needed rental options for Hartford’s event landscape.

Phase 2:
Long-Term Expansion (2027)

By late fall of 2026, we will introduce additional venue and space rental options within our original building, the first synagogue built in Connecticut, which is about to undergo extensive renovations. This phase will unlock a rare opportunity to host guests in a majestic, historic setting, ideal for larger events, performances, weddings, other life cycle and cultural celebrations. A building possessing tremendous architectural beauty, the space will offer an unparalleled experience for those seeking a meaningful and memorable event venue.

Other Services

To further enhance the rental experience, Charter Oak Cultural Center will offer, for an additional fee, a selection of programs that reflect the work Charter Oak does. These add-ons will include things like gentle yoga, brief musical or dance performances, ZenTangle (guided meditative doodling) and other programming that can deepen the experience of the event.

With Bien Venue, Charter Oak Cultural Center will not only fill a critical gap in Hartford’s event venue market, but also strengthen its financial sustainability, foster community engagement and contribute to the city’s cultural and economic vitality.

We Need You!

We invite you to support Charter Oak’s new startup venture, BIEN VENUE Event Rentals, that will create a consistent revenue stream to support Charter Oak’s vital work of social justice through the arts. We reached Hartford Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator $30,000 matching goal in September, 2025. Your tax-deductible gift to help us reach the balance of our startup capital will support our ability to offer more programs, enable us to serve more people and realize our mission at its greatest potential.

Help us reach our goal!