Connecticut Arts Grants

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in New Britain, CT, that promote music and arts, enhancing public music programs and accessibility to music education for the community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Connecticut-based nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and recognized tribes to implement humanities-focused projects such as exhibitions and public programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Connecticut-based nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and recognized tribes to research and develop humanities projects, such as exhibitions and public programs.

The Bitsie Clark Fund for Artists (The Bitsie Fund) seeks to help artists pursue new work or achieve specific creative and career goals. Donor Name: The Bitsie Fund State: Connecticut Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Greater New Haven has long boasted an abundance of gifted artists who deserve the financial support to help them soar. In 2024, The Bitsie Fund will award two $5,000 grants. One is designated for a Black artist. The second is open to all. This Bitsie Clark Fund for Artists grant focuses on individual artists at a significant point in their personal development. Although impact on the community is a wonderful feature of any project, this grant is not about community development but about individual development. It will support individual artists seeking: to tackle a major goal in their artistic development, to take a risk on a new direction in their work, or to move their career as an artist forward. The Bitsie Fund is a donor-advised fund housed at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. The artist must live in one of the towns served by the Foundation. Uses of funds  Approved uses of funds include, but are not limited to: Purchase of materials, equipment, or supplies, Compensation for time spent developing a project or creating art, Hiring others, Performance or touring costs, Travel to a destination relevant to the proposal, Rental of work/studio space or performance space, Production expenses, such as costumes, props, lighting or sound, Other items necessary for your development as an artist. Eligibility Criteria  The Bitsie Clark Fund for Artists will consider applications from individual artists practicing in all creative disciplines, including (but not limited to) dance, music, theater, visual, design, craft, literary, voice, poetry, playwriting, composition, and film. Artists who have created a substantial body of recent work and artists emerging in their field are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit The Bitsie Fund.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Connecticut organizations that promote the humanities, enabling them to improve their operations and strategic planning through consultant-led projects.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Phase 41, created in 1983, aims to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies to assist individuals facing economic emergencies. Funded through the Department of Homeland Security, EFSP provides federal grants to organizations helping the hungry and homeless. The grants are intended to support feeding, sheltering (including transitional sheltering), and rent/mortgage and utility assistance efforts. Local Recipient Organizations (LROs) are selected by local boards based on the highest need and best use of funds. The program period is from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024.

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven (ACGNH) is excited to announce the West Haven ARPA Grant. Donor Name: Arts Council of Greater New Haven State: Connecticut City: West Haven Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/29/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: With the release of $116,250 of ARPA funds from the City of West Haven, The Arts Council of Greater New Haven (ACGNH) is proud to announce the rapid release of funds to stimulate arts + culture activity in West Haven, CT this summer. Alongside the partners at ArtsWest CT, they are working to distribute microgrants of $2,500-10,000 each to artists, arts organizations, and creative businesses in West Haven. Given the rapid nature of this funding process, feasibility is one of the most important criteria for the panelists reviewing your application. They strongly encourage applicants to consider proposals that are easy to execute in the project period such as equipment purchases, GOS expenses (rent, subscriptions, etc.), artistic commissions, or offsetting costs of previously planned activities within the project period. Applicants should not submit applications for new projects or events that would need to be conceived, organized, and produced within the 2-month timeframe. Uses of funds  Because of the emphasis on feasibility, applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for projects that fall into the following categories. If you have an alternative idea to what they have proposed, please ask us in advance! General Operating Support (GOS): rent expenses, equipment purchases/rentals, subscriptions (web hosting, memberships, etc.), printing/mailing, contract labor (graphic designers, consultants, etc.). Project Support: physical materials, ground transportation, commissions, contract labor (performers, consultants, designers, etc.), advertising, venue rental, etc. Expenses can NOT include salaried employees paid via payroll (W-2 employees). PLEASE NOTE that if you receive this grant you will receive a 1099 and be responsible for paying income tax required by the law. Eligibility Criteria  Location: Applicants should EITHER be based in West Haven (e.g. individuals residing, or businesses registered, in West Haven) OR proposing a project that directly serves the West Haven community (e.g. commissioning a West Haven artist or renting space in West Haven for your next event). Age: Applicants must be over the age of 18 (if applying as individuals). Organizations/collectives applying must have a representative to receive the funds who is over the age of 18. Arts + Culture Focus: While they do believe in an expansive definition for arts and cultural–and encourage creative folks of all disciplines to apply for the microgrants–the applicant should demonstrate that the funds will be used in ways to clearly engage in artistic, historical, and/or culturally-specific activities. Applicants who submit proposals focused on other disciplines with an “add-on” artistic element will not be eligible for funding. Evaluation Criteria  The following are the criteria by which the review panel will evaluate, score, and award these microgrants. The questions are meant to guide your understanding of what they mean by each criteria, but are not the only ways to understand these values. Feasibility: Do you have the relationships and resources necessary to complete the proposal in the project period (July – August, 2024)? Equity + Inclusion: How does the proposal incorporate, serve, and/or support the historically marginalized residents of West Haven–especially the disabled folks, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and individuals of the global majority (BIPOC)? When applicable, does the application reflect equitable compensation levels for artists and administrators? Community: What community (or, communities) does the applicant serve within West Haven? How will this proposal activate, elevate, and/or support residents of West Haven? What partnerships will this project foster? For more information, visit ACGNH.

The Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is inviting applicants for its Greater Bridgeport Grant: Arts in the Service of Equity. Donor Name: Fairfield County’s Community Foundation State: Connecticut County: Fairfield County (CT) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: In recognition of the power arts and culture hold to amplify community voice, change narratives, promote inclusivity, and transform communities for the better, they are excited to announce a 3-year renewable grant opportunity focused on arts innovation for systems change in Greater Bridgeport. This funding opportunity honors the legacy and leverages the resources of the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, which merged in 2008 with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. With a total funding pool of $1 million, this initiative will support up to three collaborative projects in Greater Bridgeport. Each project will receive three general operating support grants over three years, with the largest of the three grants coming in year one, and smaller wind-down grants in years two and three. General operating support will allow collaborating organizations flexibility to allocate funding in the ways that they deem best facilitate their projects’ goals and objectives. This funding seeks to leverage the arts to accelerate and catalyze social change in community. Competitive Proposals will: Demonstrate the impact/potential impact on Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BiPoC) Demonstrate the impact/potential impact on low-to-moderate income communities Clearly communicate how their work is addressing racial inequities in Fairfield County Clearly communicate partnerships with roles and responsibilities Have a clear three-year project plan/program design with an aligned budget. Aim to influence economic, physical, and social change Made a clear, detailed connection between the project and key results areas Eligibility Criteria They will consider requests from Arts and Culture-focused organizations located within Greater Bridgeport doing work that directly benefits residents of Greater Bridgeport. Eligible communities include: Bridgeport Easton Fairfield Monroe Stratford Trumbull Grassroots, BiPoC-led organizations with systems-level change goals will be given preference. Organizations are encouraged to apply regardless of budget size. Non-traditional arts organizations, defined as those not established for an arts-related purpose, must have an identified partnership with a traditional arts organization that will be expected to serve as the lead applicant. Lead applicants must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or 509 (a) public charity, or work under a fiscal sponsor that is a registered 501(c)(3). Foundation does not award grants for any of the following purposes: Persuading people to join/support a specific religion, political party, or candidate Capital campaigns or projects (e.g., major building repairs) Covering budget deficits Annual fundraising appeals Hosting a fundraising event Purchasing land as open space For-profit, parochial, charter, private, or individual public schools Nonprofit endowments Helping one specific person For more information, visit Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.

The Town of Avon is pleased to welcome applications for its Support for Community Events Grant Program. Donor Name: Town of Avon State: Connecticut County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Goals and Objectives The Support for Community Events Grant Program aims to provide financial aid to local festivals, special events, or community programs designed to provide recreational and/or cultural opportunities for residents and generally promote the Town of Avon. The approval of financial aid will be considered for local festivals, special events, or community programs designed to provide recreational and/or cultural opportunities for residents and generally promote the Town. Special attention shall be given to events that promote the attractiveness of the Town as a place to visit and/or live, celebrate the heritage of the Town and its residents, promote recreational opportunities and/or enrich quality of life. Funding Information Grant awards will be capped at 25% of an applicant’s event budget or $7,500, whichever is less. The events will occur from July 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024.  Eligibility Criteria The applicant must meet all of the following requirements, eligibility criteria and conditions: The applicant must be identified by the IRS as tax-exempt under a 501c category. Grants will not be awarded to organizations whose primary purpose is of a political or religious nature. The event supports the aforementioned goals and objectives. Funds are not to be used to support an applicant’s regular operational costs. The applicant’s event must not be financially dependent upon receiving support from the Town of Avon. A maximum of one grant will be awarded per event. Event must be held within the limits of the Town of Avon. The recipient of the funds shall provide the Town with recognition as a sponsor in a method consistent with other sponsors who have provided funds of an equivalent value. Preference will be given to grant requests that fund the purchase of items or services that will assist event organizers in protecting the public health, safety and welfare. Examples of such items and services include, but are not limited to, emergency medical services, refuse and recycling collection and disposal, portable restrooms and wash stations, portable lighting, security services, and transportation. Grant requests to fund the purchase of products or services that are prohibited for use by, or sale to, minors will not be funded. The event must be free and open to the public. Events that charge an entrance fee to the public will not be considered. Events that are organized as a for-profit commercial venture will not be considered. For more information, visit Town of Avon.

Applications are now being accepted for the Creating New Work Grant Program. Donor Name: Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation State: Connecticut City and Town: Selected Cities and Towns Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Initiated in 2003, the foundation offers a special grant program designed to: Foster creativity in Greater Hartford by supporting local artists in the creation of new work. Foster collaborations between artists and arts organizations that benefit the artist, the organization and the community. Further the foundation’s mission to support and encourage excellence in the arts in Hartford and the immediately surrounding community. Grant Period The artist(s) must complete their project within 24 months of the grant award. Geographical Areas CNW is designed to support local artists. To be eligible, all artists affiliated with the project must primarily live or work on their art in: Hartford, Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, New Britain, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks. Who may apply? 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the foundation’s geographic giving area. The foundation gives priority to requests from organizations in the following cities and towns in Connecticut: Hartford, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Newington, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Artists may not apply directly to the foundation but must seek out a partnering organization in the foundation’s geographic giving area. Organizations may apply for either the Creation of New Work grant or an Excellence in the Arts grant within a calendar year.  Should an organization’s Creation of New Work application be declined, it may apply for an Excellence in Arts grant in a subsequent cycle. Criteria for Selection Projects are judged on the following criteria: artistic excellence and potential of the project to advance the artist(s)’s work quality of the collaboration between the artist(s) and the organization potential impact on the benefit to the community The organization must demonstrate a clear plan for working with the artist(s) and be able to articulate the project’s benefit to the organization and the community. The sponsoring organization and artist must submit a post-grant report within six months of the close of the project. For more information, visit ECATRF.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Connecticut for innovative programs and urgent needs, with grants ranging from $250 to $10,000.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that serve youth in Derby and Shelton, Connecticut, focusing on projects in areas like education, health, and early childhood development.

This grant provides financial support to various organizations, including nonprofits and small businesses, to implement projects that enhance social services, arts, recreation, and community activities for residents of South Windsor, Connecticut.