In December 2021, Northwest Connecticut Arts Council received one of only two NEA American Rescue Plan Grants given to Local Arts Agencies in CT for the purpose of redistribution. Thanks to that funding, 19 grantees now share $110,000 to support their ongoing recovery from COVID-19 and an exciting era of growth and collaboration in Northwest CT. Grantees include nonprofits, units of state/local government, and artists, all dedicated to engaging communities in the arts in an accessible, equitable way. 

“The Arts Council received funding requests for three times more than available funds”, says Katherine Pelletier, Grant Administrator. “This sum and the quality of applicants is a testament to the important work happening in NWCT and the ongoing need for Arts funding. We are proud to support our local creative community, and only wish we had more money to give away!”. Northwest CT Arts Council selected recipients based on the criteria of Artistic Merit, Artistic Excellence, READI (Relevance, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion), and Sustainability. They were aided in this selection process by thirteen panelists from across the state, representing a variety of artistic disciplines and professions. 

Grantees applied though one of two grant programs. Creative Partnerships Grants provided funding for collaborative efforts/exchanges, including creation of new work, classes/workshops, or free performances, among other things. Access Grants were general operating support grants for arts organizations or other 501(c)(3) organizations with regular, ongoing arts programming. The intent behind both programs was to enable grantees to more meaningfully and freely engage underserved audiences in the arts by tapping into existing resources and partnerships within their region. Northwest Arts Council feels confident they accomplished this goal.

Executive Director Steph Burr reflects on how the Arts Council was positioned to apply for national arts funding.  ”The pandemic showed us how critical the arts are to uniting our communities, and we knew that it was our responsibility to try and secure this funding for the region.  We are so grateful for our supporters who understand the importance of a regional arts advocacy organization and allowed us to pursue this opportunity.”   

NWCT Arts Council is eager to witness the impact of these funds for the grantees and the audiences they serve.  For a complete list of grant recipients CLICK HERE.