Artwalk and WVRA

Posted by 23rd Annual Westville Village ArtWalk on

ArtWalk is a program of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA)
www.westvillect.org 

Interested in helping during Artwalk 25? You can sign up to be an Artwalk Volunteer with THIS LINK
 

WVRA’S MISSION
The Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA) is a New Haven, CT-based non-profit organization and a designated Connecticut Main Street organization. Our mission is to partner with local businesses, property owners, residents and public and private institutions to foster and sustain economic revitalization, community engagement and cultural vitality in Westville Village and the surrounding neighborhoods, while emphasizing historic preservation and placemaking. Our programs focus on revitalizing Westville Village and the surrounding area through:

  • Economic Revitalization – business retention, expansion and recruitment; historic preservation efforts
  • Marketing & Promotions – cultural and community-building events such as annual ArtWalk festival, holiday events, and more; joint marketing efforts
  • Placemaking & Design – facade improvements; traffic-calming; walkability, transit, and bikeability; cleanliness and safety; beautification & comfort

VISION
At the base of majestic West Rock, Westville Village is an inviting historic neighborhood center within the City of New Haven. Nestled between active parks and greenways, this walkable, sustainable community blends the best of small town living with a dynamic urban setting. Westville Village is a vibrant social, cultural and economic hub where residents and visitors of all ages live, learn, work, create, dine, shop and play.

HISTORY
Founded in 1996 to develop and support the Westville Village ArtWalk, WVRA has become the main advocacy organization for Westville. WVRA advocates on behalf of Westville’s commerical and residential districts, representing their needs and interests to the City of New Haven, the State of Connecticut, and other stakeholders who partner in community development, historic preservation, arts programming, and community-based economic revitalization. WVRA has been a designated CT Main Street program since 2008. The Main Street model of downtown revitalization has a proven track record over time of substantial reinvestment in older downtown commercial districts and their surrounding neighborhoods.

An Action Plan for the Revitalization of Westville Village
Working with the Connecticut Main Street Center, WVRA has developed a strategic Action Plan for revitalizing Westville Village.