Norfolk has long been home to a wealth of visual artists, artisans, writers and musicians; perhaps that’s why the arts are so flourishing in this small New England town. Music in particular has been very important, supported by the establishment in 1939 of the Ellen Battell Stoeckel trust to fund the use of her property by the Yale Summer Schools of Music and Art, but the other arts are strongly represented.
Norfolk Library
Norfolk’s jewel box of a library is a real community treasure. It hosts monthly shows of area artists, plus frequent concerts, lectures, film showings and other kinds of events for adults and children. Perhaps its most iconic event is its famous annual book sale, held at the end of August. Open daily, except holidays.
Norfolk Chamber Music Festival
The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival holds more than 30 concerts during nine weeks in summer, featuring performances by world class artists, who also teach and mentor students at the Yale Summer School of Music. Other events include free lectures and free student concerts on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Most concerts are held in the internationally known Music Shed, built in 1906 and noted for its excellent acoustics.
Infinity Hall
Concerts by a wide variety of famous rock, pop, blues and jazz artists are presented year round in Infinity Music Hall, a lovingly restored vintage theater. Today it includes a world-class sound system and modern facilities, but still retains its original stage and ornate detail.
Yale Summer School of Art
The Yale Summer School of Art is in session for six weeks during May and June, bringing students from all over the country to work in their media and try others. Each year, the school holds free weekly lectures that are open to the public and engages in a themed community project.
Norfolk Artists & Friends
This organization of more than 30 professional visual artists from Norfolk and the surrounding area holds an annual arts weekend at the beginning of August. Disciplines represented in the show include painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking, fine jewelry, photography and decorative arts.
Norfolk Historical Society
In addition to acquiring and preserving artifacts related to the town’s history, the Norfolk Historical Society displays them in its museum, located on the village green. Its featured exhibitions change annually, and on permanent view are a country store and various goods illustrating Norfolk’s mercantile and industrial past. The society also maintains the Little Red Schoolhouse (formerly North Middle School) and opens it to the public on occasion.
The museum is open seasonally and by appointment.
Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center
The Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center was established to promote the exchange of cultures and enhance mutual understanding and trust. The center contains display areas explaining the Taoist, Confucian, Buddhist and Christian religions and cultures as a starting point for mutual learning and interaction. It is open seasonally.
Haystack Book Festival
The Haystack Book Festival brings together writers and thinkers to explore new ideas in literature and the arts. Events include the Brendan Gill lecture, book talks with writers in conversation with each other and usually an author-led walk. This annual literary festival, a program of the Norfolk Hub, is always held during the first weekend of October.
Stained Glass Windows
Norfolk’s three churches are adorned with glorious stained glass, designed and created by such noted craftsmen as Louis Comfort Tiffany, Maitland Armstrong and Franz Mayer of Munich. The library and the Manor House Inn also have notable examples. The windows at Church of Christ Congregational, Church of the Immaculate Conception and Church of the Transfiguration (seasonal) may be viewed during services or by special arrangement.
Download a walking tour map of Norfolk’s three churches here.