Norm Needleman

SEN. NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES OVER $388,000 IN GRANTS FOR LOCAL CULTURAL, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS

Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) welcomed 31 CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grants totaling $388,300 for various museums, performing arts venues, historical societies and other cultural and arts organizations across the 33rd Senate District. These grants were awarded by CT Humanities to organizations locally and across Connecticut and were funded by the Connecticut General Assembly.

The grants make up part of $30.7 million allocated over the 2022-23 biennium by the state legislature, supporting CT Humanities’ mission of connecting people to cultural and humanities organizations via grants, partnerships and collaborative programs.

“It’s so exciting to know that more than two dozen local organizations focused on keeping the arts and humanities alive, and preserving the history of our towns, will receive valuable support,” said Sen. Needleman. “I’m grateful to CT Humanities for its good work supporting our communities. These funds will pay direct dividends to local education, employment and fostering creativity and care for culture and art in our communities.”

In December 2021, a CT Humanities distribution of funding to 632 organizations benefitted job retention and growth, supported K-12 education and aided technology and digital improvements, according to CT Humanities. About 88% of the organizations receiving funds used them to hire and keep employees.

The full list of grant recipients in this round of funding in the 33rd Senate District include:

Chester

• Chester Historical Society $6,700

Clinton

• Clinton Arts Council, Inc. $5,700
• Clinton Historical Society $6,200
• Kidz Konnection Shoreline Theater Academy $8,200
• Opera Theater of Connecticut $7,400

Colchester

• Colchester Historical Society $5,500
• Sustain Music & Nature $6,400
• Increasing the Field Training Officer (FTO) compensation to 2 hours per shift
• Adding a new, annual $500 lump sum payment for Bachelor of Arts or Master’s degree, which covers about a third of the State Police employees

East Haddam

• Connecticut River Valley Symphonic Band $5,100
• East Haddam Historical Society $6,400
• Epoch Arts $7,300
• Goodspeed Musicals $108,800
• I-Park $13,800
• String of Pearls Big Band Inc $5,200

Essex

• Cappella Cantorum $6,000
• Community Music School $17,300
• Con Brio Choral Society $7,000
• Connecticut Children’s Theatre $5,700
• Connecticut River Museum $24,900
• Essex Historical Society $7,300
• Essex Winter Series $8,000
• Ivoryton Playhouse $5,000
• Maritime Music & Tradition Society $5,600
• Spectrum Art Gallery $7,800

Haddam

• Haddam Historical Society $8,100

Lyme

• Lyme Public Hall & Local History Archives $5,600

Old Saybrook

• Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center $57,700
• Old Saybrook Historical Society $7,300

Portland

• Brownstone Quorum * $5,400
• Portland Historical Society and Ruth Callendar House Museum of Portland History $5,900
• Quarry View $5,900

Westbrook

• Westbrook Historical Society, Inc. $5,100