This year's Awards Gala promises to be a spectacular event with a slew of new offerings to give attendees an in-depth perspective on our host city, New Britain. The new format has been carefully designed to showcase the downtown while providing an array of interactive experiences for attendees.  

The evening will begin with a Welcome Reception, generously sponsored by UIL holdings, held in the stunning Trinity-on-Main. Once a United Methodist Church, Trinity-on-Main was converted into "a cultural center for the advancement of the arts, to foster cultural diversity, to encourage community revitalization and to aid in the economic development of downtown New Britain." Guests will have the opportunity to mingle throughout the beautiful space while viewing displays on the many positive changes transforming downtown New Britain, including their Complete Streets plan, new downtown signage and an artful new Main Street overpass. There will also be a display on CTfastrak, the bus rapid transit system opened earlier this year.

After a welcome from New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, we'll begin our streamlined, but chock-full awards presentation, where we'll present our 2015 Awards of Excellence. Celebrate with us as we present the most innovative approaches to downtown management and revitalization from the last year. This year's winners include a new downtown built from the ground up thanks to a fruitful public/private partnership; a duo of business owners revving up interest and tourism in downtown New London, an internationally successful businesswoman who got her start in part due to local technical assistance and loan programs, and more. We'll also present our Founder's Awards, presented by Eversource, and the Jack Shannahan Prize for Public Service - the first time it's been awarded since 2008.

After our brief awards presentation it's on to the highlight of the night - our tours showcasing downtown New Britain. Guests will walk and ride around the city during one of three tour options:

• Tour 1: Downtown Arts, Heritage & Culture - Highlighting the vibrant and unique performance and visual arts & culture organizations in the heart of Downtown New Britain. Includes South Church, Hole in the Wall Theater, New Britain Artists' CO-OP, and several examples of outstanding downtown architecture. Walking tour, approximately 4 city blocks. Tour limit: 40
• Tour 2: Walnut Hill Park & New Britain Museum of American Art -  Highlighting the urban oasis at the western gateway to downtown: a world-class combination of this Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park and its ravishing Rose Garden, and the first museum of American Art in the country. Bus to Walnut Hill, then walking through Rose Garden and downhill to Museum. Tour limit: 30
• Tour 3 - CTfastrak in New Britain: Transportation, Housing & Main Street - Highlighting the operations of the CTfastrak and the related opportunities for investment in Downtown New Britain. Experience a ride on CTfastrak, while visiting downtown mixed use development projects in New Britain and West Hartford. Multi-modal and bike facility connections at the station locations will be explained, and local artists will entertain attendees along the way. Bus to station, then a short ride on CTfastrak, walking back to Trinity-On-Main. Tour limit: 55 (plus standing room)

After the tours we'll return to the Stockman Gallery (at the rear of Trinity-on-Main) for a special Champagne & Dessert Reception hosted by Greater New Britain Arts Alliance.  

With so much going on, this is sure to be a can't-miss event. We look forward to sharing it with you as we celebrate our member communities and this tremendous time for our downtowns.