CT groups receive $16M in cultural grants
Hundreds of cultural, arts and humanities organizations will be able to accomplish various goals or projects as part of the recent round of grants from Connecticut Humanities.
The money, totaling $16 million, was awarded to 624 nonprofit museums and organizations, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. Fairfield Country groups and places received about $4.5 million combined.
The Connecticut Cultural Fund Operating Support Grants are part of $30 million allocated over the next two years by the General Assembly and approved by Gov. Ned Lamont.
About a dozen of those receiving groups are in Westport and Weston alone.
“Our local arts and educational organizations play vital roles in expanding the worlds and minds of so many,” said state Sen. Will Haskell, D-Westport. “I’m incredibly encouraged to see these important groups receive key funding that will ensure they continue benefiting our communities for years to come.”
Connecticut Humanities partnered with the Connecticut Office of the Arts to prioritize the equitable distribution of this funding to organizations statewide so that all residents can access rich cultural experience, according to a news release.
Westport Country Playhouse was among the recipients, getting $80,900.
“We are beyond grateful to CT Humanities for this grant, which will enable us to deepen the Playhouse’s accountability around diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice through the hiring of a Director of EDI,” said Michael Barker, Westport Country Playhouse’s managing director. “This award from CT Humanities recognizes that the work to create inclusive spaces for audiences and artists is one of the most important projects of the 21st century.”
The Weston Historical Society received $10,200, which will be used to hire a re-branding and design consultant to help the society create an implementation plan and a marketing plan as it looks to expand its reach beyond Weston.
“Currently, we pull the majority of our visitors from Weston and the immediate surrounding towns,” said Samantha KulishFargione, executive director. “With the proper marketing and re-branding assistance, we hope to draw people from all over Connecticut as well as New York. An increase in audience and awareness would help the Weston Historical Society financially sustain, as well as grow exhibits and programming.”
Here’s what was presented to other Norwalk-area groups:
Darien
Darien Arts Center $43,500
Darien Historical Society - $16,400
The Mather Homestead $16,100
New Canaan
Carriage Barn Arts Center - $15,600
National Trust for Historic Preservation/The Glass House - $5,000
New Canaan Museum & Historical Society - $36,700
New England Dance Theater - $10,800
Shakespeare on the Sound - $24,000
Silvermine Arts Center $116,500
Summer Theatre of New Canaan - $38,800
Town Players of New Canaan - $8,700
Norwalk
American Chamber Orchestra - $6,300
Center for Contemporary Printmaking - $31,200
Creative Connections $28,500
Crystal Theatre - $18,100 Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County/The Norwalk Art Space - $10,800
East Coast Contemporary Ballet Company - $7,700
Historic Rowayton $8,900
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum - $33,600
Music Theatre of CT $42,100
Norwalk Historical Society - $12,100
Norwalk International Cultural Exchange - $8,500
Norwalk Preservation Trust - $5,600
Norwalk Seaport Association - $55,300
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra - $24,500
Rowayton Arts Center $20,200
Southern Connecticut Camerata - $5,700
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk - $355,200
The Norwalk Youth Symphony - $21,200
Thomas/Ortiz Dance $6,000
Wall Street Theater $39,900
Stepping Stones Museum for Children - $5,000
Weston
Weston Historical Society - $10,200
Westport
Artists Collective of Westport - $5,600
Beechwood Arts & Innovation - $8,800
Earthplace the Nature Discovery Center - $168,700
Friends of Westport Public Art Collections - $5,900 Levitt Pavilion - $38,500 MoCA Westport - $65,600 Play With Your Food $13,000
Remarkable Theater Remarkable Drive-In $12,500
Westport Community Theatre - $7,700
Westport Country Playhouse - $80,900
Westport Historical Society - $26,900
Westport School of Music - $21,800