In 2017, the City of Stamford established the Stamford Arts and Culture Commission to help bolster arts and tourism in the city.

Theatre and film

Prior to its demolition due to a devastating fire, Stamford's town hall included a theater on the third floor beginning in the 1870s. Edwin Booth, a Cos Cob, Connecticut resident, is said to have acted in that theater. The nearby Grand Opera House, which stood on the site of the Palace Theatre, burned down as well. The Alhambra Theatre was on what is currently called Washington Boulevard, which later sprang up and was in operation as early as 1909. It provided "High-Class Vaudeville", namely due to its lack of profanity. In 1914, Emily Wakeman Hartley founded the Stamford Theatre at the corner of what is now Atlantic Street and Tresser Boulevard. Wakeman became manager of the theater, which hosted many famous performers of the day. Most notably in 1924, Humphrey Bogart acted in a supporting role in the comedy, Fool's Gold. In 1927, Bela Lugosi starred in Dracula: The Vampire Play four years before he played the same role in the film. George Gershwin's first Broadway show, La La Lucille played in the theater in 1919, and in 1921, the Al Jolson-produced play, Lei Aloha opened at the theater, six years before Jolson's debut in The Jazz Singer. In 1928, the theater advertised a Sunday performance of the "World's Greatest Pianist", Sergei Rachmaninoff, calling him simply "Rachmaninoff".

Current theatre and film venues

Music and dance

Distinctive architecture

Science and nature

In the 20th century, particularly after World War II, educational institutions were founded in the city or expanded in a range of areas.

Visual arts