The RiseUP Group, Inc.

About Us

RiseUP for Arts is Connecticut’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to public art, youth development, and community empowerment. Founded in 2012 as a youth mentoring and leadership program, RiseUP has grown into a statewide movement that uses public art as a catalyst to connect communities, elevate local voices, and create opportunities for creative expression and social impact.

RiseUP’s signature programs include the Creative Leadership Program, which empowers youth through hands-on art and service-learning experiences; the Able Table initiative, which provides wheelchair-accessible, artist-designed picnic tables for inclusive gathering spaces; and our Art4Hope initiative, which uses art to promote mental wellness and healing.

With more than 300 murals and creative placemaking projects completed across Connecticut, RiseUP brings together artists, students, and community members to co-create vibrant public spaces that tell the story of each neighborhood. In West Hartford, RiseUP has led impactful efforts like the Elevate WeHa initiative at Hall and Conard High Schools and public art engagements at Blue Back Square.

As a proud member of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, RiseUP is committed to building strong local partnerships that support arts access, youth engagement, and inclusive community development throughout the region.