The community celebrated the 50th Anniversary of ACES Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) on October 4, 2024.

storytelling was showcased at the heart of ECA’s history.

The event highlighted the telling, handing-down, and keeping alive of our collective stories that are part of ECA's fabled fabric. From past to present students, faculty, and alumni, we honored the narratives that shaped our identity. Through our Creative Writing, Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts departments, the arts have played and continue to play a powerful role in our storytelling.

It's not just the passing down and sharing of stories between people, it is also the stories we tell and express through the arts which allow us to transfer new ideas, celebrate our differences, and reflect upon our history. As we reflect on ECA's journey, we celebrate the enduring power of storytelling to foster new and renewed connections, continuing our history and adding our voices to ECA's enduring legacy.

"ECA is a magical place."

I'm not sure I would have made it through high school if it weren't for the community at ECA. My college music program was a good experience, but ECA was the most special place. Possibilities were infinite and I was surrounded by like-minded creative people who inspired and challenged me every day. It's an art utopia.

"I have eternal gratitude for ECA"

"I can say with 100% certainty that were it not for my time studying at ECA, I would not have the life I have today. ECA was where I learned to play the music that would shape my entire career."

"ECA is the BEST"

"My school is the best school in the world I think that I've come along way and I want to become more that what I am and I want to live bigger than I live because of this school I can become who I want to be and live where I want to live so thank you. ECA also helped me learn that I am myself and no one can change you. So thank you to the people that supported me."

THANK YOU

As the "Cultural Capital of Connecticut" we greatly appreciate the support the City of New Haven offers to help hundreds of students from surrounding towns experience the gift of art as education every year.
We want to extend our most heartfelt appreciation to Aces for being dedicated to enhancing and transforming lives through education, innovation, and leadership.