COVID Relief Grants Headed to CT's Museums, Historic Venues

Connecticut Humanities (CTH), the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and counterpart to the state’s Office of the Arts, will be providing grants to fifty nonprofits in Connecticut totaling $1.5 million, in support of their efforts to sustain operations despite the significant adverse financial impact of the pandemic.

CTH’s COVID Relief Fund for Museums helps larger non-profit museums and other 501c3 non-profit humanities organizations with full-time staff and annual operating budgets of at least $450,000 recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants range from $22,727.25 to $45,456.00.

The grants are for operating support for larger museums and other 501c3 nonprofit organizations that provide humanities-based projects and activities for the general public - such as museums, historic houses, historical societies, cultural centers, and other types of non-profit organizations that offer activities like interpretive exhibitions, discussion-based public programs, or walking tours to the general public.

 “Like performing arts venues, museums and other public humanities organizations are dependent on various revenue streams that simply evaporated because of the pandemic. These are vital and vibrant places in our communities that also need a bridge to the future,” said Dr. Jason Mancini, executive director at Connecticut Humanities.

Funding for CTH’s COVID Relief Fund for Museums was made possible by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) through an allocation to the State of Connecticut from the CARES Act.

“Connecticut’s museums are anchors in our communities. They give residents of all ages opportunities to engage with local history and culture and spaces for dialogue and connection,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “In addition, museums are part of the tourism and culture sector responsible for thousands of jobs. It is vital that we sustain Connecticut’s museums through this pandemic.”

Receiving grants of $45,454.50 are the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut Historical Society, Connecticut Democracy Center, Connecticut Science Center, Mark Twain House & Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum, Everyday Democracy, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, Mystic Seaport Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, The Maritime Aquarium, Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme), Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (Ridgefield), and Stamford Museum and Nature Center. In addition, just over 30 facilities will be receiving $22,727.25 grants. 

The total estimated financial losses due to the coronavirus pandemic for these fifty organizations through December 2020 is more than $25.4M. In addition, all told they have lost over 300 full- and part-time jobs to date.

These grants are to be used to reimburse organizations for eligible operating expenses incurred between March and December 2020, enabling the state’s museums to retain staff and enter 2021 in a stronger financial position.

“As the principal advocate for and funder of humanities nonprofits in our state, CTH is uniquely positioned to accept and award this funding and we are grateful to Governor Lamont, OPM Secretary McCaw, and DECD Commissioner Lehman for their support,” Mancini added.

Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations and gifts from private sources.

For more information and a full list of the grant awards, visit cthumanities.org/grants/covid-relief-grants-for-museums/