Why would an affordable housing developer own a community art gallery? At NHS Greater New Britain, housing and art aren't separate missions. They're complementary parts of one approach to building community. NHS New Britain President & CEO Chris Sanders explained, “NHS Gallery 66 provides us with a powerful focal point for convening and engaging. It is an important part of our mission of making a community a better place to call home.”
The gallery, operated by curator Adrian Elliott, has played a unique role in New Britain, Connecticut since its opening in 2003. Initially designed to give artists a place to showcase their work, the gallery became both a community hub and a visitors’ center. People popped in when they arrived in town to ask questions about the city, get restaurant recommendations, and, of course, take a look at the artwork. "The gallery has always been a personal, intimate setting," Adrian shared. "Intimacy is our niche." That intimacy extends beyond visual art. NHS Gallery 66 also hosts the longest-running open mic night in Connecticut, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they simply moved it outside rather than shut it down. That instinct for authentic relationship-building shines throughout all of the gallery’s initiatives.
Creating Community and Opportunity through Art
Every time Adrian drove by the gallery's building, she'd picture artwork on the brick wall outside. She brought the idea to the gallery's "Let's Talk About Art" group, and several artists pitched in their own time and materials to bring it to life.
“I thought about the impact a mural could have on the community,” Adrian shared. “It would help in keeping the area clean, keeping people excited about the neighborhood and solidifying the gallery as a destination for visitors, too.” The mural has done all of that and more.
The mural was unveiled during this year's NeighborWorks Weeks, and Adrian could not believe the attention that it has brought to the gallery. People approached her to thank her for the installation and for turning the alleyway into what they now call the “galleryway.”
While the mural catches attention and gets people in the door, it's the gallery's ongoing programming that builds community for residents of NHS New Britain's homes. The gallery offers free creative workshops for two age groups that especially benefit from structured activities: 12- to 15-year-olds and adults 55 and older. And what’s a workshop without snacks? The gallery has a long-term partnership with the local McDonald’s, which provides snacks for the teens and displays the students’ artwork in the restaurant.
The workshops draw many residents from the senior living facility across the street. More than giving seniors something to do, the workshops give them a chance to actually connect, Adrian said. Some residents who live on the same hall don't truly get to know each other until they're sitting side by side, creating art.
One participant shared, “There is a feeling of community and camaraderie among the group. I am disabled and often home alone. It has been a real blessing to have something I really want to do to get me out of the house and into my community.”
The workshops leave a lasting impact on teens, too, providing them with opportunities to build a portfolio, showcase their work and even sell their artwork. NHS Gallery 66 hosts Tiny Art shows around the holidays, selling pieces that are small in size and in price. The event makes buying art accessible to more of the community and provides a space for budding artists to make their first sale.
Adrian remembers one show in particular. She had framed a piece by 13-year-old Faith, a quiet way of telling the student that her work belonged there. Faith had come to the show with her mom and grandma. A woman walked in right as the doors opened, wanting to show her husband the community she’d grown up in. By the end, the couple had bought eight pieces, including Faith's, for $200.
Beaming with pride, the young artist penned a note to the couple who'd bought her first piece. It was a small transaction, but it's also the gallery's whole model in miniature: Create a hub where art, commerce and community meet.
NHS Gallery 66’s Next Chapter
Despite its vital role in the community, limited funding nearly shut the gallery down in 2024. Adrian recounts her fight to save the creative home: "I walked across the street to the mayor with a report titled 'Why Gallery 66 and the Visitors' Center are Important.'”
She spoke with Chris Sanders, and together they said, “Let's do it.” Gallery 66 became an official project of NHS New Britain.
While some might not see the natural fit between a housing developer and an art gallery, Chris recognized the powerful impact Adrian’s community-building has on the neighborhood. “The arts, culture, and artistic expression are important ‘tools’ in our efforts to engage and empower the communities that we work in,” he explained. “They build on the other things we do like housing development, property management, and building financial literacy skills, providing what we think is an important element of what makes stronger neighborhoods.”
The numbers illustrate the impact Chris describes: Since August 2025, NHS Gallery 66 has hosted more than 50 free programs and events, drawing an estimated 1,000 to 1,700 residents and visitors, and given more than 75 artists a place to exhibit or perform.
So what’s next for NHS Gallery 66? Adrian has no shortage of ideas. “The Galleryway mural is a rotating mural. There are five pieces up now, tacked in place. I'll continue to invite new artists in, maybe once a year around NeighborWorks Week. I want it open to all different artists, a good mix, giving younger and out-of-state artists opportunities.” Adrian is also focused on building what the gallery needs to thrive beyond her tenure.
"I'm into legacy, and it's time for somebody else to scoot me out of this chair," she said with a laugh. But she's not done yet. There are still reports to write, Tiny Art shows to plan and new artists to invite in. They're small acts, but they add up to something bigger: a neighborhood people are proud to call home.
