CT Humanities and State Office of the Arts Partner for CHEFA Cultural Relief Grants for Arts, Cultural Organizations

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There may be a small ray of sunshine ahead in what has been a dark year for arts organizations across Connecticut, as many have had to shut their doors or drastically limit attendance due to coronavirus concerns.  Connecticut Humanities and the Connecticut Office of the Arts are partnering to provide limited relief funding to nonprofit arts, humanities, and cultural organizations that are:

  • continuing to provide arts and humanities programs and services but are facing financial hardship resulting from COVID-19,

  • committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work in their mission and operations,

  • committed to the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community.

These grants are funded through the generosity of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA).

Connecticut’s cultural sector is responsible for more than 100,000 jobs, $2.2 billion in tax revenue, and $960 million in state and local taxes in the state, according to officials.

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“Connecticut’s nonprofit cultural organizations are essential to animating the stories of who we are -- informed by our past and imagining our future,” said Dr. Jason Mancini, Executive Director at CT Humanities.  “We are grateful to CHEFA for supporting our work to provide critical relief to the cultural sector. With support from CHEFA, our new partnership with the Office of the Arts affirms our shared organizational and financial commitment to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in our state.”

Connecticut Humanities and the CT Office of the Arts will be re-granting a total of $85,000 to cultural organizations across Connecticut. Each grant award made will be in the amount of $5,000. Grants may be used for general operating expenses and no funding match is required.

“It’s rare that a private foundation, a humanities council, and the state government work together to create a funding partnership,” points out Elizabeth Shapiro, Director of the Connecticut Office of the Arts. “In addition to their generosity, CHEFA has demonstrated true leadership in advancing a path forward for these strategic initiatives. It is more critical now than ever to work together to address the multiple pandemics facing our world today – not only COVID-19, but equity, justice and access to financial support.”

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Letters of Intent are currently being accepted and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants selected to proceed with the full application will be given an opportunity to expand on their work, through November 16, in relation to the following review criteria:

  • Negative impact of COVID-19 and continuity of operations and sustainability during the pandemic,

  • Strength of arts and humanities programming and activities,

  • Dedication to and understanding of DEI,

  • Commitment to the BIPOC community.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of CTH board members, CT Office of the Arts designated representatives, and outside committee advisors who will meet approximately three weeks after the application deadline.

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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.

To be eligible, organizations must provide significant programs and/or services to the public on a regular basis, including open hours and special events, and be in compliance with all terms and conditions of previous CT Humanities and CT Office of the Arts grants. The CTH CHEFA grants webpage includes an application preview and full guidelines, at https://cthumanities.org/grants/.

The Office of the Arts is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut's creative economy. Part of the state's Department of Economic and Community Development, the Office of the Arts is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.